NAPLES, Fla — Like many high school seniors, Victoria Alvarez won’t be able to walk across an actual state for graduation this year. But, she is making sure she encourages her peers to look on the bright side.
“We can at least try to make the best out of our situations with these virtual graduations and try to celebrate all we’ve accomplished and achieved,” Victoria said.
During her four years at Lely High School, Victoria has accomplished and achieved a lot. Her resume includes being on the soccer team, tennis team, senior class president, an AP Scholar with honors, A National Hispanic Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and a member of the Spanish National Honor Society.
“One of my major accomplishments was becoming a sunshine state scholar,” Victoria said.
She’s keeping her college options open but, she has her eyes on the University of Florida and New York University.
Paula Richardson is her math teacher; she describes Victoria as being an amazing student. She says Victoria takes on a lot of extra things and still always turns in her assignments and goes way beyond just trying to get the work done.
Victoria says her inspiration comes from her grandmother. She’s 70-years-old and was still working before coronavirus. Her grandmother is the reason Victoria is planning on majoring in health science and wants to pursue a career in medicine.
“Spending the day with her seeing her interact with patients,” Victoria said. “Her daily activities as a nurse made me just made me want to follow in her footsteps.”
Victoria is also proud of all the healthcare workers who are on the front lines during the pandemic. She says that, too, makes her want to go into the field even more.
“I want to pursue it to be like these people that I look up to and admire for their bravery,” Victoria said.
She’s excited about college and can’t wait to see where life takes her.
