College : Fresno City College Career Goal : Neonatal Nursing
June 1 , 2023 / Saroyan Theater
About Sarah : Sarah Corrales said this about her life : “ If you name it , I have probably been through it .” From a young age , her parents were in and out of her life . One of her earliest memories of her father was talking to him through the Plexiglass of a jail visiting room . Her grandparents helped to care for her until she was in the third grade , and she was also in foster care for about a year with a wonderful family whom she is still in touch with . As a young girl , she would wonder why her life was so different from other girls at her school . As she got older , Sarah felt compelled to take on the parental role in her family . As a sophomore at Hoover High School , she found herself living in a motel room with no kitchen and caring for younger siblings – a newborn and a toddler . Her attendance went downhill , and she was told she was no longer on track to graduate . She “ freaked out ” when she was referred to DeWolf High School . But DeWolf turned out to be a good fit for Sarah . Caring staff helped her embrace the support the school offered and changed her view of continuation high schools . She became a quiet leader among her classmates . She said she knows that education is the key to changing the trajectory of her life . She wants to give back to her community by being a nurse .
In her words : “ Even though I have been through some sucky situations , it lit a fire in me to keep moving forward in life so that one day I can earn my education and live a stable and safe lifestyle . I am determined to overcome my childhood trauma .”
36 DeWOLF HIGH SCHOOL
From English teacher Nanci Gardner : “ She is down to earth and genuine . She is smart , yet humble . She has handled the pressures of school and trying to put food on the table for her family with observable grace and a determined spirit .”