Ernesto is a senior at South El Monte High School who is known by his friends as a chill and hardworking person. During high school, he made a lot of memories with friends and learned important lessons that helped him grow as a person. He says his family has always been one of his biggest motivations and helped push him to keep going even when school became stressful. Ernesto shared, “High school taught me how to be more responsible and think more about my future.” Over the years, he faced ups and downs like many students, but he always stayed focused on graduating and doing his best.

As a senior, Ernesto says he is proud of making it this far and getting ready for the next step in life. High school was not always easy, especially trying to balance classes, responsibilities, and personal life, but those experiences helped him mature. Ernesto said, “I learned that if you really want something, you have to work for it.” After graduation, he plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona and study industrial engineering. He hopes to build a successful career and continue working hard toward his goals. Ernesto also wants younger students to enjoy their high school years and not wait until the last minute to take school seriously because time goes by fast. His story shows how much a person can grow from freshman year to senior year.