Yvette Lopez
9th Grade

Rancho Buena Vista High School
Vista, CA

Yvette Lopez knows how to argue. Not with her parents like many teenagers – she is an award winning debater for Rancho Buena Vista High School’s Speech and Debate club where she is an 11th grader. She attributes much of her success in high school and motivation for college to the club alongside the driving force of her family.

"My father came from a large family, he and his siblings, had to drop out of school after junior high. He has always told me he wants better for me – so do I. Both my parent suffered hard challenges coming to America." Yvette's parents look to her to set an example for her younger brother – to be the first in the family to earn a college degree.

Yvette also sees herself as a role model for other Latinos: "Hispanic culture is underrepresented in our universities. If the state of California saves a place for us … the representation would change immensely." Yvette hopes that a college education will help in having a stable life, a feeling of accomplishment, and more job opportunities.

"I see how my parents struggle and I see them working harder than most people – and they don't get as much money for it," she says. Her father earns $12 an hour and her mom earns $10 an hour. "Paying for college seems next to impossible right now." And while she's trying to challenge herself in high school to prepare for college and to qualify for scholarships, the financial burden is still an overwhelming obstacle.

Low income students are tremendously underrepresented on California’s college campuses and face significant challenges that they must overcome in order to reach college. These challenges contain both the pragmatic problem of figuring out how to get there and get financial aid and the equally critical issue – to believe that it is possible. Studies show that low income students both overestimate how much it will cost them to go to college and underestimate the amount of financial aid and resources that exist in California.

Despite these concerns about paying for college, Yvette's enthusiasm and positive outlook encourage her to work hard and continue to stay focused on her road to college. She is often encouraged by her teachers who go above and beyond to help push her in the right direction. Someday she would like to be a teacher to give back and pave the way to help others reach their goals "and keep them motivated every step of the way."

Yvette's winning essay:

Spotlight

Everyone has different goals, different successes and a different plan. In an interview with LaDainian Tomlinson a reporter asked the simplistic question, "What does it take to do what you do?" the adored San Diego Charger replied, "Willpower, endurance and promise to yourself." I believe that those are the keys to any success and without a single one, a challenging goal could never be reached. The long term goal I value the most, and focus on continuously is getting a degree in education. Ever since I can remember helping someone understand something whether it be in English, history or life in general, has always made my day. Without the state of California, me as well as the minorities could not achieve our prized goals of going to college.

Abby Grimmers once said, "The only person you need to believe in you is yourself." Finding myself inside a nation of great opportunities I have gained willpower to achieve mine. The enormous help of my parents and teachers have given me the strength of will to carry out my own choices. There have been times where I have wanted to give in, not care, or simply ignore yet I read my mission statement, "Do all you want, as long as you do well" and I cannot see myself not trying my personal best. The state of California would benefit when saving room for motivated students who are determined to pursue the opportunities which are given to them. I am determined to make a change, a positive one in this world, educating the future is my ideal change. A role model to any and all who wish to have me as one.

My father came from a large family, he alongside his siblings had to drop out of school when barely finishing their years in junior high, he has always told me he wants better for me, as do I. Both my parent suffered hard challenges coming to America, leaving one life and having to create another seems surreal to me yet, they have given me every single opportunity to succeed. They look to me to set a positive example to my younger brother, going to college, getting my degree is the only way to do this. Not only would I be a role model for my brother, but to my own culture as well. The Hispanic culture is underrepresented in our universities, if the state of California saves a place for us to gain a further step towards our long term goal the representation would change immensely.

Becoming an educator opens doors for me to change the future. I hope to make an impact upon students, help them reach their goals and keep them motivated every step of the way. Saving a spot in college is not only saving a seat in a classroom, but rather saving the possibility as possible. My goal is to make a change, whether or not it is simple is up to the eye of the beholder, either way college is what is going to allow me to capture it.