College : Phoenix College Career goal : Nurse / healthcare law

About Natalia : Throughout her life , Natalia Pizarro has embraced a variety of roles that have shaped her resilience and commitment to the community . She learned the importance of hard work , adaptability and excellent customer service from working at McDonald ’ s , Taco Bell and several Mexican restaurants . Her passion for participating in sports- including basketball , baseball , softball and volleyball- instilled teamwork and perseverance in Natalia . While off the field , volunteering in church deeply enriched her understanding of compassion and community service .

Natalia credits two things as the driving forces behind her determination and clear understanding of her goals : external encouragement and internal clarity . She said her family , especially her mother , along with her personal ambitions keep her motivated to overcome challenges .

Her support system extends beyond her immediate family . During her time at eLearn Academy two staff members deeply impacted her life . Cyndi Mello , her favorite teacher , and Olga Lopez , her counselor , both made her feel welcomed , valued and important .

“ I truly appreciate them and will remember their impact for years to come , as they ' ve shown me the profound difference caring educators can make in a student ' s life ,” she said .

Natalia wants to be a nurse , then transition into the legal field . She plans to champion patient rights and drive meaningful reforms in healthcare legislation .

In Natalia ’ s words : “ Knowing exactly what I want and having a deep , genuine desire to achieve it , pushes me to work tirelessly .”

From Cyndi Mello , teacher at eLearn Academy : “ Natalia has grit . She has overcome many obstacles to graduate . She struggled during the pandemic , like so many of our students . But she fought back , made up the credits she needed and stayed the course . She did all this while holding a job , keeping up with her studies and helping her mom manage the household . I am beyond proud of this young lady .”

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