Mathew Anthony
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow by realizing that you are not alone and can seek help. My career path goal is to open my own business. My family inspires me. Extra-curricular activities that I am involved in are Cross Country and Track. They are important to me because they give me motivation to keep going. I want to be remembered by being the cross country captain and a person who can be seen as a leader.
Alejandro Barroso
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me learn a lot more about college and the application preocess. My favorite subject is Math. My educational goals are to hopefully get an A in one quarter of Physics and the career path I'd like to take is Engineering and I don't have a dream school. My brother is my biggest inspiration because I have seen him handle two jobs while attending his university and not letting it affect his grades with him maintaining his 4.0 GPA. Extra-curricular activities I am involved in include: Wrestling, Track and Field, EAOP, UBCI, and LULAC. These have helped me meet more people and helped me talk and learn more about what I want to do outside of high school with sports. They have also helped me grow as a person and become persevering.
Luis Bucio
Junior ℅ 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
Sophomore ℅ 2028
I do not have a favorite memory with UBCI since I really enjoy all of the workshops, events, and volunteering opportunities that they provide. I look up to Mrs. Madonna because she is a very honest and hardworking person. She has overcome many obstacles in life despite how difficult they were and continues to persevere. I really enjoy chatting with her as she is very nice and gives great advice. I also like her sense of fashion and shoes. My goal is to attend a university such as UCI or UCLA and study to become either a computer engineer or surgeon. I would like to be remembered as someone who never gives up and perseveres despite challenges and obstacles.
Alex Carranza
Junior ℅ 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.
Ziomara Castillo
Senior ℅ 2026
Being part of Upward Bound has given me guidance, support, and opportunities to see my potential. The program helped me navigate challenges, stay motivated, and plan for college. Through UBCI, I’ve grown in confidence, independence, and leadership, learning how to balance responsibilities while still pursuing my passions. I enjoy English, Science, and Math, which challenge me to think critically, solve problems, and explore new ideas. I aim to attend UCLA and continue challenging myself academically while pursuing a career that allows me to help and inspire others. My educational journey is about growing personally and contributing to my community. I’m inspired by the people around me who didn’t choose to do better. Their choices remind me of the importance of taking responsibility for myself and striving to improve, motivating me to work hard and embrace more opportunities. I’m involved in Mariachi (Secretary), Ballet Folklórico (Captain), ASB, HOSA (Future Health Professionals), and Key Club. These activities are more than hobbies, they teach me leadership, teamwork, time management, and creativity. They’ve helped me connect with my community, celebrate culture, and support others in meaningful ways. I hope to be remembered as someone who worked hard, supported others, and made a positive impact. I want to inspire people to pursue their passions, embrace responsibility, and contribute to their communities, showing that dedication and care can create real change.
Dulce Cuapio
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow by building my confidence and improving my leadership skills. It has also helped me figure out which colleges are a good fit for me and guided me through the college application process. My favorite subjects are respiratory care and advanced patient care because I enjoy learning how to help patients breathe better and provide them with the best possible support. These subjects interest me because they are important for improving people’s health and preparing me for a career in healthcare. My educational goal is to attend community college for two years and then transfer to a four-year university. I want to pursue a career as a pediatrician so I can help care for children and make a positive difference in their lives. My mom inspires me because of her strength, kindness, and dedication to our family. She always supports me and sets a positive example through her hard work. I am involved in LULAC and it’s important to me because it allows me to support the latino community and develop leadership skills. Being involved also gives me the opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I hope to be remembered as someone who always showed kindness and compassion to others. My goal is to make people feel valued, supported and understood regardless of their background or circumstances.
Gabriel Cruz
Sophomore ℅ 2028
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow a lot. My favorite subjects are Math and World History. My educational goals are to attend UCLA and get my medical degree. The individuals who inspire me the most are my parents. The extra-curricular activity that I am involved in is Folklorico. It is important to me because it is part of my culture and who I am. I want to be remembered as someone who is always positive, and continues with a positive mindset.
Irma Fraire
Junior ℅ 2027
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow in many ways. It has helped me be more open and conversant with new members. It has also helped me stay informed about school resources and benefits. My academic interests are in Spanish Literature and Biology. I enjoy reading and learning more about how a living organism works. In the future I desire to graduate from CSUN or UCLA with a Masters in Biology. This will help me create a path into my orthodontist career. My parents are my biggest inspiration, from them I've learned that good accomplishments come from hard work and that everything is possible as long as you are prepared for the challenges you might come across. As of right now I am enrolled in mariachi and flag football. These extracurricular activities help me take a break from school and clear my mind with something fun and beneficial. If there were something I would like to be remembered as it would be my compassion and kindness for others, helping them if they are in need of something.
Kaitlyn Hardwick
Junior ℅ 2027
UBCI has helped me grow as it’s opened up a lot of opportunities for me. It’s also allowed me to relax and feel more confident in my future as UBCI is there to help me every step of the way! My academic interests are English (AP Lang this year!), and History (APUSH this year!). I have loved these subjects my whole life and I'm grateful to pursue these subjects deeper in high school, especially through the honors and AP programs! I hope to go to a big university such as UCLA or CLU, and study psychology and sociology. And I hope such a degree would bring me closer to my dream job, which is working at a form of help centers such as 911 or the suicide hotline. My mom and my grandfather have always big my biggest inspirations as they both built a life out of nothing. I hope to learn and grow from them, and eventually make them proud! I am involved in both Marching Band as a flute instrumentalist and Vice President, along with Mocktrial as an Expert Witness. Both of these programs have allowed me to grow as a person, and learn new skills. They’ve taught me confidence, pride, and collaboration which has allowed me to become a better and more successful person. They’ve both also taught me responsibility and balance. I want to be someone people can turn to and trust during hard times and emergencies. I hope people remember me as a kind, empathetic, and accomplished person.
Luis Hernandez
Senior ℅ 2026
Participating in UBCI has helped me develop & grow by providing workshops that teach me something new, which expands my skill set. My favorite subject is Psychology. My educational goal includes going to college/university to earn a degree in psychology. My mom inspires me because she never gives up. She works hard to keep us going & so that we don’t have to live the life that she lived & instead provides us with a life that she wants to live. Extra-curriculur activities that I’m involved in are football & track. Both football & track are important to me because they taught me that perseverance & hard work always pay off in the end, from freshman year to as of now, I've seen myself grow in many ways thanks to these sports. I want to be remembered by leaving some type of athletic record in either football or track for my school or county.
Rich Hernandez
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow and understand what opportunities lies ahead of me and what to look for when thinking of my future. I'm very interested in learning about what it takes to become an Engineer. My favorite subjects are Math, Science, and Music. I plan on going to Oxnard College for two years then transferring to a four-year to study Electrical Engineering and I'd love for that to be UC San Diego. Seeing people's academic achievements and tracking my own progress inspires me to try harder and makes me believe in myself and my academic success. Extra-curricular activities that I am part of are Band, Raider Rock, and Esports. These are all very important to me as they represent two of my biggest passions: music and competitive gaming. I hope to be remembered both for my capabilities in things like academics and music, and for being someone people can talk to about anything.
Rick Iniguez
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me be more productive and follow through with my goals. Currently, I enjoy English and Math as I have seemed to find a rhythm in which I am succeeding. I would enjoy attending a 4-year university such as UCLA or UCSD and major in Structural Engineering or Environmental Engineering. My ASB Director, Mr. Z inspires me as he is always enthusiastic and cheerful even when people think they won't smile that day he manages to do so. I am involved in ASB, Link Crew, Key Club, Fashion Club, MESA, Matheletes, LULAC, Oxnard District Council, District 5 Youth Council, and Leading the Youth. They are important to me as they all keep me busy and has introduced me to many new people. I hope I leave a leadership mark at CIHS and want to be remembered as productive and fun.
Vivianna Juarez
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me branch out as a person and be able to make connections with so many different people. UBCI's Summer Academy helped me make new friends which was very helpful when we got back to school. My favorite subjects in school are English and History. I am extremely interested in Journalism and enjoy writing in my free time. I hope to work for Vogue as an editor and maybe as a creative designer. My dream school is NYU and I want to study at their Journalism Institution. Someone that inspires me is my mom. She reminds me to never give up and always try on everything I care about. Without my mom I wouldn't have the same morals or aspirations I have today. I am in EAOP, LULAC, Fashion Club, Wellness Peer, District 5 Commissioner, Track, and ASB. Each one of these activities ventures into something I enjoy and helps me become a better person. Without these clubs I wouldn't have the friends I have today. I want to be remembered as someone who makes everyone feel included and seen for who they truly are.
Lesly Lerma
Sophomore ℅ 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.
Jimena Llanos Soriano
Junior ℅ 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.
Joel Lopez
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me form new friendships and granted me opportunities to enhance my college applications. I enjoy English and Math when I understand it. My educational goals include wanting to go to Oxnard College and attending their Fire Academy, as well as becoming a certified Emergency Medical Technician. My father inspires me. The extra-curricular activities I am involved in are Track and I am the Team Manager for Basketball. These are all important to me because they give me a feeling of belonging. I hope to be a positive influence for people wanting to do things they aren’t comfortable doing and help them understand how comforting a try can be.
Kaylin Lopez Torres
Junior ℅ 2027
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow in my time management department because doing workshops while having after school activities has taught me how to manage my time and what to make a priority. My favorite subjects are art and band. My educational goals are to get into a good college, hopefully a UC, and major in Architecture. My dad inspires me to be a better person because he overcame many obstacles to get where he is now and I really admire that. An extra-curricular activity I am involved in is the CIHS marching band and band is a huge important thing for me because everyone there is welcoming and they treat you like you belong and it's something that has always made me feel at home. I want to be remembered as someone who truly made an impact in my community by helping others reach their potential and by just being known as someone who always volunteered and was always willing to help out.
Carissa Martinez
Junior ℅ 2027
My participation in UBCI helped me grow by introducing me to opportunities in how to pay for college and work on my applications. I’ve become more open and have made new friendships with people which has opened my social circle. My Academic Interests or Favorite Subjects would be Math and Science (Specifically Human biology). My education goals would be to be accepted into a good university such as UCLA or Stanford. I would like to pursue a career in Medicine and be a Pediatric Surgeon or Cardiac Surgeon. My Parents inspire me because they have always worked hard to help me achieve my goals and have sacrificed so much. Extra-curricular activities that I am involved in are Mesa, Mecha, UBCI, EAOP, Fishing Club, Wellness Center Peer, Raiders Recycle. I want to be remembered as someone who never gave up and accomplished all of my goals. I want to have made a difference and helped those who are in need of assistance. I want people to feel comfortable and safe around me.
Angel Mendoza
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI helped me grow through the exposure of different career options and visiting different campuses. It gave me an idea about which schools I’d like to apply to. My academic interests/favorite subjects include math and history. My goal is to attend UC Berkeley as an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major. I'd like to get a job in software development while working on my own Indie games on the side. I'm inspired by the idea of travelling the world. If I can get a good job in software development, I can make a good enough income to travel (especially if I get a remote job). Extra-curricular activities I am involved in include Marching Band and Academic Decathlon. These activities are fun things to do with friends that are outside of my school responsibilities. I'd like to be remembered for making people's lives better. My main approach to that is to make games that others enjoy. I hope those games can make others' lives that much better.
Esmeralda Ortega
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow by improving my teamwork, and communication. My favorite subjects are Spanish and English, these subjects just interest me a lot. My educational goal is to attend Oxnard College and get into the Dental Hygiene program there. I’m inspired by people who work hard and don’t give up on their goals because it eventually pays off. Extra-curriculur activities that I am currently only involved in EAOP, it's a really important program to me because I feel like I have extra support to pursue my goals. I hope to inspire people to follow their dreams and never give up.
Ximena Ortega
Junior ℅ 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
Sophomore ℅ 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.
Sofia Padilla
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me gain clarity on what career path I want to follow by attending their career and college workshops. UBCI has also helped me branch out and build strong friendships with others. My favorite subjects are Science and Math. I have always found them interesting because they are challenging, but rewarding. I plan to major in the STEM field. I am most interested in studying Biochemistry. I hope to attend a 4-year University right after high school. My dream schools are USC, UCLA, UCSD, and CSUF. I plan to obtain my Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry or Chemistry. Afterwards, I plan on attending a pharmacy school and obtaining a Pharm.D. to reach my ultimate goal of being a licensed Pharmacist. My parents are my biggest inspiration. They inspire me to never give up when things are challenging. They are my greatest supporters and I am forever grateful for them. Extra-curricular activities that I am involved in are CSF, LULAC, EAOP, Leading the Youth, ASB, District 5 Youth Advisory Council, HOSA, MESA, Link Crew, and Key Club. These activities have helped me branch out, strengthen my leadership skills, and create strong relationships with others. Through these activities, I am also able to help my community by volunteering, which is something that is very important to me. I would like to be remembered by how kind, welcoming, and successful I was.
Alex Perez
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow by introducing me to things that are important for my future. My favorite subjects in scholl are Math and Physics. Some educational goals I have would be to attend a good school and puyrsue a career in Mechanical Engineering. Someone who inspires me the most is my mom. She has always been there for me in times where I needed help the most. She is always pushing me to work hard and do my best. An extra-curricular I am involved in is soccer. Soccer is important to me because it gives me an opportunity to take a break from everything and it helps me reduce stress. I would like to be remembered as someone who worked hard and never gave up on their dreams.
Jimena Perez
Senior ℅ 2026
Participating in UBCI has not only taught me so many new things but it has also given me a space to feel safe and welcome. Over the years I got the chance to make new connections with other students and that helped me become more outgoing and better at making new friends. My favorite subject is math because I love anything to do with numbers. I want to continue to a 4 year university and get up to my masters in Business/Marketing. I hope to own my own business one day and give back to my community. My true inspiration is my family because they have always been there for me when I needed them. They push me to be the best I can be and they always support me in whatever I do. Getting a higher education will not only make them proud but will pay off all their sacrifices. I am a part of EAOP, LULAC, and the wellness center peers. EAOP has helped me with the knowledge of my future. Giving me opportunities to visit colleges and grow my knowledge. LULAC has given me the opportunities to hold workshops and go to conventions that have grown my knowledge of what is actually going on today and how I can help. Lastly, being Wellness peer president has shown me how important it is to give make to my community and has given me a home away from home. Mental health is really important to me and I was glad to grow my knowledge on how to cope with it. I want to be remembered as someone who always tried her best in whatever I did. I hoped to accomplish a lot but one thing I really do is coming back to my community and do whatever I can do to help.
Suri Valeria Perez Cuapio
Senior ℅ 2026
UBCI has allowed me to gain so many educational opportunities through workshops, network, field trips, tutoring and so much more. Moreover, UBCI has also allowed me to stay close with my classmates and advisors who have been helping me out with my social skills and communicative skills. My academic interests and favorite subjects include English, CTE Patient Care, and Journalism. The final goal for myself is to become a successful nurse who can work with infants/children and help them heal. I really hope to make it as far as CSU Fullerton, UCLA, or Long Beach. My mom and grandmother are my biggest inspiration. Extra-curricular activities I am involved in include: HOSA (Future Health Professionals), LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) Youth, Isle File, and Leading the Youth. Each of these activities really make up the type of person that I am. Each thing I do and am a part of really demonstrates everything I want to be such as nursing, social activism, writing, and working with children. I want to be remembered as only my mother's daughter, because only with her and my own effort I've been able to manage myself through all the chaos. The biggest impact I want to make is to break generational stereotypes within the community that I have always grown up in.
Ashley Prado
Senior ℅ 2026
My favorite memory with UBCI is going to have to be the summer academy I got to hang out with my friends and meet new people in UBCI. I look up to Mrs. Plascencia because she has such a great attitude everyday and always has a smile on her face. My educational goals are to graduate high school, go to Moorpark College, then transfer to CSUN and get my degree in Radiology. If there is one thing I would like to be remembered by is my kindness and me always having a smile on my face.
Gizelle Rodriguez
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow in knowing that it's okay to ask for help especially when it's going to affect my future. It's also helped me in receiving more knowledge with colleges and universities and has helped me with deadlines and tutoring as well. My favorite subject is Spanish and always has been. My educational goals are graduating college and continuing to university. I do not have a dream school at the moment however I would like to go abroad to study. My mom inspires me due to the fact she didn't attend college and has always pushed me and supported me to be the best version of myself. I am involved in sports, flag football and softball. They are important to me because they have helped me create new friendships. I am also involved in EAOP, it is important to me because it has helped me think more about my future. I want to be remembered for being a nice person who was able to help people even if it was just in the smallest ways. I hope to make a good impact on my community and world by supporting others in ways I need support.
Araceli Salvador Diaz
Sophomore ℅ 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.
Nereida Solano
Senior ℅ 2026
During my 4 years of being part of UBCI, they have shaped me to who I am today. They navigated me to seek higher education and continue supporting each and one of us in many ways. Their informative workshops have answered many of my questions and showed me tips that helped me in the long run. Through them, I was able to obtain an internship at Clínicas del Camino Real which allowed me to get a feel of how it’s like being in a clinic environment. With this, I enjoyed observing staff collaborate and provide well structured patient care. Respiratory care is my favorite subject as it provides me with a greater understanding of the pulmonary system and it aligns with the field I want to pursue. I love the environment of the classroom and the teacher. I want to major in nursing at CSULB but during my prerequisites I want to take a CNA and phlebotomy course to gain more experience. I then plan on becoming a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics or neonatal. Mrs. Collins continues to be my role model as her enthusiasm is always shown whenever she is teaching her Patient care pathway classes. Her dedication being a Respiratory Therapist while teaching made me believe it’s possible to pursue both my future and childhood dream. I thank her for helping me discover what I find interest in. I am involved in HOSA, through this club I hope to discover new insights and information about the medical field. I am also taking a MA course at CEC, taking this course I have gained new knowledge and experience on how I am able to be successful during my internship that will lead me to finding a job for a MA position after high school. I want to push everyone to succeed with their potential and not be afraid to fail. Failing is a step to success, through this you are able to look back and learn from your mistakes. I hope to be a role model to many as a 1st gen pursuing a career in the medical field.
Vanessa Tapia
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow by trying to figure out what I want to do with my life after high school. They have also helped me stay informed about college. My favorite subject is English. My educational goals are to go to community college and transfer to maybe UCLA. I am involved in LULAC and the American Red Cross. Being a part of these clubs are important to me because I want to help my community as much as I can. In my community I would like to be remembered as someone who helps others when they need it.
Joshua Tellez
Sophomore ℅ 2028
My participation in UBCI has helped me grow by learning to ask for and accept help. My academic interests are Science and Chemistry. My educational goal is to study Mechatronics Engineering at CSUCI. My parents inspire me. The extra-curricular activities that I am involved in are Fishing club, Chess club, Cross Country, and Reel Guppy Outdoors Internship. I want to be remembered as the person who invented all sorts of new types of robots.
Iris Texis
Junior ℅ 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
Sophomore ℅ 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.
Uriel Texis
Senior ℅ 2026
My favorite memory with UBCI was the Summer Academy. Someone I look up to at school is Ms. Anthony because she is my Coach and teacher always makes me push myself even though I don’t want to at times. Going to a 4 year university after high school and doing Cross Country/Track. One thing I would like to be remembered by is being the best distance runner Channel Islands High School has ever had.
Marcjorie Vargas Mayo
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI has been instrumental to the growth of my knowledge of the overall college process and has helped me become more confident in my abilities. I am most interested in math. I hope to become a Labor and Delivery nurse, and wish to attend any UC or CSU school, but I am hoping to get into CSUF. I am most inspired by the residents at the hospital I interned at during the summer. All of them were really nice and incredibly dedicated to their jobs, which I also hope to be when I start my career. At school, I am treasurer of HOSA and secretary of Book and Film Club, and am a part of EAOP along with UBCI. Outside of school, I am a student manager at Westminster Free Clinic and volunteer with the SALUD program the clinic has. To me, these roles are important because they have been incredibly helpful to me in gaining insight and experience into what I want to do in the future and have helped me give back to my community. I hope to be remembered by my contributions to my community and the time I have dedicated to it. With this year being my second and last year at Westminster Free Clinic, I hope to continue making an impact on both the patients and the interns while I can.
Xaire Vargas
Senior ℅ 2026
My favorite memory with UBCI has to be my 2nd overnight trip I was able to attend. We were able to get a campus tour by alumni Tania Salceda and by my brother Marcos Vargas! They gave us an amazing time at UC Berkeley where I was able to get a better idea of where I would want to see myself in a couple of years. Being able to visit Berkeley’s campus with the group of people I’m always surrounded by truly felt even better. I won’t ever forget the memories, the laughter, and the bond UBCI created on that trip! Someone I look up to at school would have to be UBCI’s staff. Each individually has truly made a better impact on my social life, and academic life. I think I speak for all of the UBCI students that we are truly amazed and thankful for all the staff for what they have done for us. No matter if it’s trips, tutoring, workshops, or having to put up with our silliness they’re definitely ones to look up to for their hard work and I thank them for it. My educational goals as of right now is to obtain a good GPA, get good grades, and for me to be able to achieve that I need to start focusing and asking more questions. These are key steps that can lead me to the path I want to pursue; going to UC Berkeley, majoring in legal studies, and networking with more people. If there was one thing I’d like to be remembered by, it'd have to be by how straightforward I am. All of my friends know how quick I am to get to the point and be so straightforward when something either good or bad is happening and usually they’re always grateful to have me as that friend who’s able to stand up for them when they can’t.
Araceli Velasco
Senior ℅ 2026
My participation in UBCI helped me grow by helping me be on top of things and giving me opportunities that will help me learn valuable skills that will be useful in the real world. My academic interest is Advanced Patient Care. An educational goal of mine is to become a health teacher. My parents inspire me to do my best and accomplish my goals. An extra-curricular activity I'm involved in is cross country and Hosa. Cross country is important to me because I like running and Hosa is important to me because I get to know more about the medical field. I want to be remembered as someone who doesn't give up, helpful, and kind to others.