Alejandro Alcantar
Junior ℅ 2028
I joined UB because of my friends, and my teacher recommended the program to me. It lead to being one of the best choices I've made that year.
My career path is Robotics.
Adamaris Altamirano
Junior ℅ 2028
As the first person in my family to plan on pursuing higher education after high school, I have no information or guidance on what path I need to take to reach my goals. I decided to join UB to help prepare myself for my future and get guidance on the path I want to achieve through the opportunities they offer!
My goals after high school are to attend a four-year university right after graduating, major in biochemistry, get a master's degree, and work in a pharmaceutical laboratory!
Yesenia Arias
Sophomore ℅ 2029
Being part of UBCI has helped me grow by becoming more responsible and organized. I’ve become more confident about speaking up and meeting new people. UBCI taught me that growth happens when you challenge yourself. My current favorite subject in school is math because I like solving problems and finding patterns. I plan to attend a two year college after high school and the rest in a university my goal is to receive a strong education and build a stable future for myself. My family, especially my aunt Silveria, inspire me the most. My parents work hard everyday and always remind me to try my best. Seeing my aunt overcome challenges and achieve things that were not easy showed me that the impossible can become possible She taught me to never give up even when things get hard and to fight the challenges and work hard the my goals. I am currently involved in swimming and I dance once a week. Swimming is important to me because it teaches me discipline, teamwork, and how to push myself to improve. Dancing helps me express myself and be stress-free. Both activities help me stay active and balanced while managing school. I hope to be remembered as someone who made a positive difference in the world. I hope to inspire others to work hard and believe in them self. I want to use my success to help people in my community and make others feel supported.
Sharik Barcenas
Sophomore ℅ 2029
I chose to join UBCI because I saw the opportunities UB offered from their social media, and as someone who plans to attend a university after high school I know that UBCI has those resources to help me.
My career path is Biology or Political Science.
Teresa Barragan
Junior ℅ 2028
I joined UB for the opportunities that UBCI offers to students, such as tutoring, advice, college help, and more. I made the decision to join UBCI because I wanted help with college, and it has truly proved to be a great program.
My goal, career-wise, has always been to be someone who makes a positive impact on other people's lives, and that's why I aim to be something in the medical field. I will feel fulfilled in life if my job is to help others every day.
Luis Bucio
Senior ℅ 2027
Joining UBCI this year has already made a big difference for me. Before, I didn’t have many clear academic goals or a defined career path, but UBCI has helped me organize my ideas and set a direction for my future. Through the workshops, I’ve learned how to prepare for college and better understand what schools are looking for. Overall, the program has helped me become more motivated, focused, and confident in my goals, and I’m excited to continue learning and growing through UBCI. My favorite subjects right now would probably have to be math and physics. I like math because it makes sense to me, it's logical, and there’s always a solution if you keep working through it. Although physics is challenging to me, it allows me to apply those concepts to understand how the world works. My educational goal is to study engineering in college, most likely aerospace or civil engineering. I’ve always been interested in how things are designed and built, and I want to use math and physics to solve real-world problems. My dream school would probably be UC Berkeley because of its strong engineering programs, chill vibes and rigorous entry which makes the satisfaction of attending so much greater. My friends and future inspire me the most. They’re all really active and hardworking, and seeing how much effort they put into what they do makes me want to push myself, too. My future and the thought of a better life overall inspires me to pursue my education and motivates me to push myself. I am involved in UBCI, TRIO, CSF, MESA, Raiders Recycle, Social Justice, and MECHA. Clubs that are relevant to my academic goals are important to me since they help me better prepare for them and contribute to the clarity of my objectives. Other clubs like MECHA, Social Justice and Raiders Recycle just overall make me feel like I am participating in my community and making a difference. I want to be remembered as someone who helped others achieve their goals and hope to make a positive difference through kindness and leadership. I want to be remembered as someone who cared and made an effort to help others succeed while leaving a hardworking and determined impression.
Joanna Calderon
Junior ℅ 2028
I chose to join UB because I want to prepare myself as best I can for college and learn all these important life skills that they teach. Additionally, it's fun, and it's like a home for me at CI.
I would like to one day become an Orthopedic Surgeon.
Alex Carranza
Senior ℅ 2027
My participation in UBCI has helpoed me grow by being less shy and able to talk to others more. My favorite subject is Science. My educational goal and career path is to hopefully become a welder. My parents inspire me. The extra-curricular activities I am involved in are Soccer and I cut hair. I would like to be remembered as someone who was helpful to others.
Khaezelyn Cenizal
Senior ℅ 2027
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Gabriel Cruz
Sophomore ℅ 2028
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow by being more opened minded being less shy meeting new people and getting out of my comfort zone and learning how to work with new people. My favorite subject is Natural Resources l MSA because it really engaging and really fun and we go out to the ocean and learn about the environment and do hands on project like build a sea-perch(ROV) and help clean local park. My education goals are going to UCLA or UCSF for medical and nursing. Someone who inspires me are my friend because they always pushing me to do better and always encouraging me to do stuff out of my comfort zone. Some extra-curricular activities that I am in is Folclórico. Folclórico is important to me because Folclórico is part of my tradition and heritage. I want to be remember as someone who is funny and someone who has a positive mindset.
Irma Fraire
Senior ℅ 2027
As a first-generation daughter in a Hispanic household, I chose to join UBCI because they care for and help out students like me pursue a degree in hopes of a better future.
My future career path is to be an orthodontist and work in the dental field to help those around me and in my community.
Victoria Gonzalez
Sophomore ℅ 2029
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow because it has taught me that putting myself out there is a good thing, even if it’s hard at times. It’s also helped me grow, because it has taught me many different skills. My favorite subject is probably math because it comes easily to me and has never stressed me out. In my future, I hope to go into the medical field. I’m still debating what exactly to be, but I know that’s the field I want. My dream school at the moment is UC Irvine. The person who inspires me the most is my mom because she always pushes to accomplish her goals. I am currently not involved in any extra-curricular activities, but I did do volleyball. Volleyball was important to me because I think it helped me become a more open and kind person. I hope to be remembered as a hard working and kind person in the future.
Kaitlyn Hardwick
Senior ℅ 2027
I chose to join Upward Bound because my friend told me to, and I believed it would look good on my college applications. In the end, it helped with so much more than that, leading to me becoming who I am today.
For my career path, I want to go into education, hopefully becoming an English and or ELD teacher.
Giselle Hernandez
Sophomore ℅ 2028
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow not only as a student but as a person. This program has contributed to my new adapting habits such as getting to school before the bell rings, getting my homework done on time, and maintaining A and B grades. My favorite academic interests is Psychology. Getting to learn about the human brain has to be one of the most interesting and important aspects you could have knowledge on. After high school I hope to attend a UC school and become a Forensic Nurse. My older sister inspires me. She’s guided me throughout my childhood giving me advice on certain events that have had an impact on me. The thought of her having to figure out most on her own makes her the strongest person I know. I’m a wellness peer for CIHS and am also apart of ASB and UBCI. These programs have not only helped me prepare for my future, but have helped me access resources to new opportunities and engage with new people that are now a part of my everyday life. I want others to feel heard and acknowledged by me. A lot of the times a person could feel ignored and not appreciated by their emotions or presence. I want to be a person that people could always be near without feeling judged or dismissive.
Cesilio Juarez
Senior ℅ 2027
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Lesly Lerma
Junior ℅ 2028
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow academically and personally. Through their support I’ve learned how to manage my time better, stay organized, and take advantage of new opportunities. UBCI also has guided me about college and scholarships, which made me feel confident about my future. I’ve gained strong communication skills from working with mentors and learned to uphold myself and my goals. My favorite subject is English, because I enjoy reading stories and learning about different perspectives. Even though I don’t enjoy analyzing them, I love how stories let me imagine new worlds and characters. My goal is to become a professional Pastry Chef or work in the dance community (2nd option). I want to attend a college with a strong culinary program where I can build my skills in baking and cooking. I’m interested in attending schools like the Culinary Institute of America because they focus on creativity and professional training. I hope to learn not only delicious pastries but also share culture through food and performing arts. My sister inspires me because she motivates me to stay focused and commuted. Seeing her dedication keeps me pushing to reach my goals. An extra-curricular activity that I’m involved in is competitive dance. It is important to me because it’s where I can express myself, challenge myself, and grow both mentally and physically. Dance has taught me discipline, teamwork, and confidence. Skills I can also use later in life. I want to be remembered as someone who followed their passions and used their creativity to make others feel inspired. Whether it's through pastries or performance, I hope to bring joy and comfort to people. I also want to show that it’s okay to follow your own path and build a future on what you truly love.
Kaylie Lizotte
Senior ℅ 2027
UBCI has helped me grow by making me more independent and realize I don't need there to be someone I know everywhere I go because there's possibilities to meet new people every step of the way. It has also helped me be more mature in the sense of college preparation and take my academics more seriously than I ever did before. One subject that I have always loved since elementary is history. I love learning about the different cultures and traditions there were before me and seeing how these cultures have carried their roots up until this day. I have also grown to love English because I've always been interested in expressing yourself using your words, but growing my writing skills is always a part of English that I love. Currently, my educational goal is to study marine biology at one of my top schools: UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, and CSU Monterey Bay and use my findings to help better our world. I was asked the question, "Who is your hero?" my first thought went to someone who did everything she could while she was alive to help nature and make a difference in this world while she could; Jane Goodall. She once said, "Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved." and it's ideas like this that inspire me to try my hardest so everyone can live in harmony with nature and ourselves one day. Some extra-curricular activities I'm involved in are making posters and upping the spirit at CIHS in ASB, diving deeper in my culture at Filipino Culture Club, and donating blood with American Red Cross. All of these are important to me because I know it helps me grow into a better person and all places I know I'm accepted and making a difference at. I hope to make an extremely positive impact to the world by guiding everyone into how their habits can be changed to save the world because I believe one day my generation and future generations will see the value in this world and the nature here on earth. I strive for success to show an impact that although you may feel like you're just one person, you make a difference everyday.
Jimena Llanos Soriano
Senior ℅ 2027
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow both academically and as a person. Through the program, I’ve learned how to manage my time better and balance my extracurriculars with other responsibilities. Due to the program’s workshops my goals have been further reinforced and I have a much stronger plan for the future, allowing me to stay motivated. UBCI has also pushed me to put myself out there. I now feel more confident in communicating and working with others. My academic interests + favorite subjects are heavily science based, especially when it comes to chemistry and medicine. I love learning about how the body works, how it evolves/adapts, and understanding the science behind health, procedures, and patient care. Even though these subjects can be tough, I find fun in them as they make me think critically, driving me to learn more. These interests connect to my career goal. Overall, I’m passionate about learning the human body and how everything connects. My educational goals are to attend a 4-year university that will provide me with many resources and opportunities such as internships and lots of hands-on-experience, allowing me to grow and prosper. I hope to attend medical school and pursue a career as a surgeon to help others. My dream school is one that will help me make the most out of my education and of the opportunities that will pave the way for my full potential. Someone who truly inspires me is my sister. She’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve met, but what inspires me the most is her character. She’s kind, empathetic, selfless, determined, and always willing to help others. Her hard work and the way she handles everything with patience and calm is something I deeply admire. My sister's compassion and perseverance strives me to become like her as she is one in a million and the embodiment of what I aspire to be. I’m involved in Folklórico, HOSA, MESA, CSF, EAOP, and Westminster free clinic. All of these activities are important to me in different ways. Volunteering at the clinic has been one of the most meaningful opportunities because it allows me to help people in my community all while gaining valuable experience in healthcare. Dancing Folklórico is a way in which I connect with my culture and express it. Meanwhile, HOSA, MESA, EAOP, and CSF strengthen my leadership skills, prompt me to think critically, provide counseling, keep me motivated, and help prepare for my future career. I want to be remembered as someone who made a positive difference in people's lives, no matter how small. I also hope to inspire others by proving to them how helping others doesn’t always have to come from something big, that it can start from something small. I want to continue giving back to my community and I hope that through hard work, I can leave a lasting impact in my community, encouraging others to do the same.
Kaylin Lopez Torres
Senior ℅ 2027
I joined Upward Bound for the tutoring, but stayed for the college workshops and amazing advisors.
My career path is Architecture/Environmental Design.
Joannah Marquez Garcia
Sophomore ℅ 2029
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Carissa Martinez
Senior ℅ 2027
I chose to join UBCI because I wanted extra support and guidance as I prepare for college. I also saw it as a way to meet new people, explore outside of my comfort zone, and inform myself on the different pathways I can take to become successful.
My career path is to become a Pediatric Surgeon.
Nelly Ordaz
Sophomore ℅ 2029
I joined UBCI after their presentation in my AVID 9 class, I found myself interested in the several opportunities they offered and felt that I should get out of my comfort zone and join UBCI.
My career path is Forensic Psychologist.
Dayana Oropeza
Junior ℅ 2028
As a child of immigrants and a first-gen student, I joined UB to explore my horizons and learn how to succeed in college. I love the supportive environment and am entirely grateful for the support of the UB staff in helping me succeed in my academics and guide me to succeed in college.
My current dream career path is to major in Psychology and graduate with my Masters Degree as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Ximena Ortega
Senior ℅ 2027
My participation in UBCI helped me grow as both a person and a student. Being in UBCI gives me a sense of responsibility and helped me figure out what I should prioritize and as a student it helped me seem more well rounded and I’ve become more focused in my life after high school. My academic interests are going into a four year university, my favorite subject is math since I always enjoy that it has steps to find an answer. My educational goal is to either go to Cal Poly SLO or UC San Diego, I either want to major in Civil Engineering or Animal Science. My family is a big inspiration for me since they give me motivation to continue my studies, mostly my parents since they gave up their life back home to have opportunities they didn’t. Some extra-curricular activities I’m in are for clubs, MECHA, MESA, Social Justice, Bible Club, LULAC, Raiders Recycle and I do soccer for both outside of school and for school. They're important for me because they help me be involved in school and give me a distraction/ breather when I’m stressed. I want to be remembered as someone who has a strong faith in God and who is always there for anyone also as someone who always smiles.
Eduardo Ortiz
Junior ℅ 2028
Participating in UBCI has helped me grow by preparing me for college and showing me different career paths. My favorite subject is English. My educational goal is to attend university and eventually become an engineer. I would say my sister inspires as despite her struggles she still managed to become the first in my family to attend university. I am involved in track, cross country, Keyclub, CSF, SJC, and CAUSE and they are important to me as I’ve met many new people in them. I want to be remembered as making a positive change in my community.
Stephanie Perea
Junior ℅ 2028
The reason I joined Upward Bound was to learn more about colleges and make sure I picked a college I actually enjoy. I also joined to do more activities outside of school and learn more about colleges, not just inside but also outside and explore more colleges.
A career path I am planning to take is Finance since I want to major with something that has to do with math since I like math.
Isabella Quintana
Junior ℅ 2028
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Samantha Robles
Senior ℅ 2027
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow personally and academically. Through this program, I have learned how to manage my time, how to be responsible, and it has provided me with many resources that help me grow academically. My favorite subject is Patient Care because I am interested in pursuing my career in the medical field and learning about healthcare. This class has taught me a lot of skills, like proper hand-washing and how to properly put on PPE. It also gives you the opportunity to be CPR certified. My educational goals is to attend community college for 2 years and then transfer to a university. I want to pursue my career in the medical field. A person who inspires me is my brother because he pushes me to do my best in school and has always helped me when I needed it. Some extracurricular activities im involved in is Hosa, Avid Club, and EAOP. I want to be remembered as someone who was able to help and be there for others when they needed it.
Alexis Rodriguez
Senior ℅ 2027
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Araceli Salvador Diaz
Junior ℅ 2028
Participating in UBCI helped me make new friends and let me become more confident in my knowledge on what were the steps to apply to college and what things were good to help build my resume. A few of my favorite subjects are Chemistry and Math and I really love how I joined Cross Country this year because I enjoy running. My dream school would be to go to UC Irvine after I finish going to a community college to get my credits and get the hang of how college works and I become more confident in what I want to do. I want to do something related to Business but as of right now, Accounting is what really interests me. Some people that inspire me are my parents because they know how valuable knowledge is to have a good life in the long run even though it will be hard to get there. Other people that inspire me are also a few of my friends or classmates because they show persistence in what they want even though they know it will be hard to get there but they still stay determined. An extra curricular activity I am in is cross country and it's important to me because it helps me stay healthy and also because I really enjoy running. I love the new friends I have made and even though it's hard running sometimes, I still feel good because I am with my friends and also because I know I am improving the more I go to practice. I want to be remembered as someone who could be counted on and know that they won't be judged. I hope that when they may feel alone they can count on me as a shoulder to lean on who will not judge them and could provide advice if they needed it.
Isabel Salvador Diaz
Sophomore ℅ 2029
I chose to join UB because not only have I heard that they have great opportunities and are very active with their workshops but also they have such an amazing staff that is not only supporters/helpers towards all students but also our friends and really care about our personal life. It feels like everyone is a family a we are all so close to each other and I really wanted to be a part of a program that will help me with my educational path in the future but also have a lot of resources to help me with many things I may not have known before.
The career path that I want to pursue is anything in the law or medical field. I always wanted to choose a career pathway that helped out people in any way and I feel like anything in the law field will help people in many ways and I want to be able to help them. I also feel like a nurse or anything in the medical field has always sounded interesting to me because I would love to work with patients and get to know them but also help them with the process that involves their health.
Ronaldo Santacruz
Senior ℅ 2027
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Joshua Tellez
Junior ℅ 2028
I joined Upward Bound to learn about higher education and hopefully get into a 4 year university.
My career path is Robotics Engineering.
Alyssa Tesnado
Senior ℅ 2027
I chose to join Upward Bound because I wanted to be part of a community that would always be offering help and support during my academic years, and Upward Bound has been exactly that for me!
I want to study Business Administration and work in the field of Accounting. I've always been interested in these fields since I was a little girl due to my exposure of being exposed to money and being able to analyze information, so combining the two things that I've known since a child seems like the perfect career path for me.
Iris Texis
Senior ℅ 2027
Being part of UBCI has helped me grow more out of my shell. It's been a woinderful experience and I had the chance to meet new people and make new friends. My favorite subject is Math since it makes me think and I learn how to solve more problems. My dream schools are USFCA, Cal Lutheran, and UC Irvine. Someone who inspires me is my cousin. I look up to her because she's really smart and works hard to achieve her dream. Some activities I am involved in are clubs and volunteering. I'm in CSF and Avid Club. I like helping the community by doing my service hours. They are important to me because they help me become more knowledgeable. I wold like to be remembered as a shy girl but also a funny girl, once you get to know me.
Kimberly Texis
Junior ℅ 2028
My favorite memory was when I went to UCLA for the first time because I was able to explore more universities to see what really suits me for my future. Someone I look up to at school is Hazel Serratos because she's really good at doing nails and is a great student with amazing grades. My educational goal is to be successful and complete my career path at my dream university which is at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I would like to be remembered as a parrot because I'm really loud, giggly, and talkative when you get to really know me.
Rafael Vasquez
Senior ℅ 2027
My participation in UBCI had helped me get out of my comfort zone and be more social with the people around me. I have also gained a lot of new knowledge that isn't taught in school so it's nice to be able to have a place where I can get information that isn't only school related. My favorite subject would have to be math because I like to think about math problems kind of like puzzles and finding the answer is like finishing a puzzle. Math has also always been a subject that just makes sense to me although it can be a struggle sometimes I like having that challenge. My educational goals is to be the first person in my family to go and graduate from college. I want to get my bachelor's degree in education and be able to go back to my elementary school and be a teacher there. My mom is for sure my biggest inspiration, she came to the United Stated as an immigrant at 17 and it's very moving to me how she risked everything she had to be try to give me and my siblings a better life. She also raised me as a single mom and has fought hard for everything she has. My extra-curricular activities are ASB and EAOP, I have been in ASB since my freshman year and I am currently the activities commissioner and my class' treasurer. ASB is super important to me because if it wasn't for me joining I don't think I would have been the person I am today. As soon as I stepped into that room I felt an immediate connection with everyone and it felt like a welcoming place where I can just be myself, not only that but I have also learned many life lessons throughout the years of participating. EAOP is also very important to me because as a second-generation immigrant with parents who didn't go past elementary school, I have never really been aware of all the procedures of college and how to succeed after high school, It also led me to the path of joining UBCI. Back to me being a teacher I want to be remembered as one of those teachers that you will always remember in the back of your head whenever you accomplish anything. That teacher that was always there for you and helped you grow as a person.