College : UC San Diego Career Goal : Nurse
About Paris : When Paris Lawson was 6 , her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor the size of a baseball . She and her siblings quickly became five children growing up in a household with one parent who was disabled and unable to work . Her family ’ s income came in the form of government-supported programs such as Medi-Cal , housing assistance and food assistance benefits .
Although her father sent child support , it was not enough to fully provide for the family , and they struggled to make ends meet . Paris ’ mother died in 2016 when she was 11 , and her grandparents became her caretakers . Still , her grandfather was the only one working and they stayed impoverished .
Paris learned at a young age that life is unpredictable , and her goal became to hone her personal skills and pursue a stable professional and financial future . She knows going to college will provide her with that ticket and has been busy the past four years working toward her dreams .
During high school , she joined a multitude of extracurricular activities such as student leadership , tennis , the Senate , lacrosse , Class of 2023 Club , California Scholarship Federation and the school site council . She is also an office holder for several organizations , volunteers and is a peer mentor .
In her words : “ Ever since I was little , I have always wanted to improve and further my academics . Learning has always been something that I enjoy and excel in . I have this dedication to make something out of myself .”
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From English teacher Eli Carlo : “ Every once in a while , a student enters my classroom and reminds me of the reason I became a teacher in the first place . Paris Lawson is that student .”