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Name: Brianna Curtis
Age: 17
High School: Stockdale High School
GPA: 4.5
Community and School Involvement: Three-sport varsity athlete for four years (cross country, soccer, track); captain of cross country team for two years; Valley Champion track team one year; ranked No. 1 over 600 students for senior class
College: Full scholarship University of Notre Dame
Major: Engineering

Q: Who has been your inspiration academically and why?
A: “My inspiration has been my parents because they have always supported everything I do and have told me I can do anything. Turns out they were right, since I got into my dream school when no one thought I could.”

Q: What has been one of your most memorable high school moments?
A: “My most memorable moment was when I broke 20 minutes in a cross country meet. It was about 100 degrees outside, and I was so tired and happy, I almost started crying and was clinging to my friend so I could stand after the race.”

Q: What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
A: “I hope to be attending graduate school.”

Q: And 10 years from now?
A: “I hope to work for an engineering firm, most likely in the oil fields around Bakersfield.”

Q: How do you plan to duplicate your success in high school at the university level?
A: “I will continue to read everything I can get my hands on and never stop working.”

Name: Elizabeth Rivera
Age: 17
High School: Bakersfield High School (proud home of the Drillers)
GPA: 3.93
Community and School Involvement: I tutored, and in the past, I’ve volunteered at the American Cancer Association with organizing bags for a night light walk they’ve done before.
College: If all works out well, I’ll be attending UC Irvine as an Anteater (school mascot) this fall.
Major: Criminology
Other: I took four AP classes this year, statistics, government, economics and English. I’m the first person in my family to actually be going away for college, and I’m the youngest of the two girls and second youngest of five kids.

Q: Who has been your inspiration academically and why?
A: “Definitely my high school teachers this year. I really think I was fortunate to have the opportunity to take the classes that I did this year. My teachers Mrs. Pederson, Ms. Nixon, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Reynier all have the ability to make a student want to actually think and analyze for him or herself. They’ve all made me feel that it’s normal to question, to dream big and to never remain content with the person that I am, to welcome change as it comes.”

Q: What has been one of your most memorable high school moments?
A: “Just this weekend, actually, I went to my high school baccalaureate and I really feel that those memories are going to last me a lifetime. Just in that moment everything sunk in, the fact that this would no longer be my school of attendance, that in a few short months, I would be in a foreign place, alone and inexperienced, but bracing myself to suffer the bangs and bruises life was going to eventually throw my way.”

Q: What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
A: “I’d be out of college by then, and I think I’d be on my way toward getting a master’s degree or something along those lines. I’d also be working as a crime scene investigator, and since I want to be involved in psychology as well, maybe I’d be a criminal profiler.”

Q: And 10 years from now?
A: “Maybe by this time, I’d have worked my way up the ladder and I’d be working for the FBI or something, yes that would be great. I’d also see myself maybe engaged to ‘Mr. Right,’ if there is such an existence nowadays.”
 

Name: Amanda K. Ramos
Age: 17
High school: Highland High School (proud home of the Scots)
GPA: 3.78
Community and School Involvement: Varsity softball, band, Associated Student Body (ASB), two community service clubs, Key Club and Interact, and much more
College: CSUB
Major: Liberal Studies

Q: Who has been your inspiration academically and why?
A: “The main people who have inspired me most during my high school career would probably be my family. Whenever I needed help with anything, they were always willing to help me. Whenever the student councils or the ASB needed a parent or adult to help with homecoming, dances, or anything, I could always count on one of my family members to help me/us out. I love and respect all my family, and I thank them for always being there for me when I needed them most. The second inspiration to me would probably be the Athletic/Activities director for my school, Kym Campbell. She has been amazing. She knows my abilities and weaknesses. She knows what I am capable of — therefore, she’s pushed me to my limits. Whenever I was starting to slack off, or starting to get lazy, she would be right there, telling me to get back on track.”

Q: What has been one of your most memorable high school moments?
A: “My most memorable high school moment would be during my junior year when we won the Valley Championship for softball. It proved to us that hard work pays off. It showed us that heart, focus, and hard, endless practice will give us memory that will last forever.”

Q: What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
A: “In five years, I hope to be graduating from college. I want to be working as an elementary teacher somewhere here in California.”

Q: And 10 years from now?
A: “Ten years from now, I want to be settled down with a secure job as a teacher. I hope to start a new family with someone special and have one child around this time.”

Q: How do you plan to duplicate your success in high school at the university level?
A: “My plans for university level is to focus on only school. I want to be successful in my academics — therefore, I want to be sure that I focus on my work.”