Alexandrea Sanchez
8th Grade

Harden Middle School
Salinas, CA

Since a young age, fifteen year old Alexandrea Sanchez had dreams of becoming a doctor. While most children played dress up with band‐aids and plastic stethoscopes, Alexandrea spent time in hospitals and doctor's offices.

It was there that she first learned about a rare type of tumor called AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) – the subject of her prize winning essay in the 2008 "Save Me a Spot in College" scholarship contest. This rare disorder can cause seizures and other physical maladies in the brain. Three of her five family members were diagnosed with AVM. This condition is still somewhat of a medical mystery but instead of losing hope Alexandrea used this fact as her inspiration.

As an incoming freshman at North Salinas High, she plans to become very active in her school and community. She currently enjoys her AVID college preparation classes, continues her cheerleading activities and awaits all the new experiences high school has to offer. AVID is an academic enrichment programs that helps prepare educationally disadvantaged students for college.

What Alexandrea is most excited about is a high school medical internship. At the local hospital, teens can earn credits in a real world medical environment. "I want to be a neurosurgeon!" she says, "My sister goes to UC Davis, and I hope to get a degree there as well." Alexandrea looks forward to a day when her work can help cure conditions like AVM.