Valerie Mendoza, a senior at South El Monte high school, who is known as a hardworking and who always values her roots. Growing up, her family played a big role in shaping who she is today and motivated her to keep pushing herself to succeed. She is not just focused on doing well in school but is someone who cares about the people around her. She talk about how much her childhood and family influenced her she said, “My family taught me to never give up, even when things get stressful at school.’’ Their support has been the foundation for everything she has done since freshman year.

Over all the last four years, Valerie has grown a lot as a person. She faced challenges and especially trying to balance schoolwork and her personal life, Even through stressful moments, she never let it stop her. Valerie says she is proud of herself and how far she’s come and how confident she feels now compared to the beginning of freshman year. Looking to the future, Valerie has big plans for after graduation. She plans to attend college and work towards becoming a dentist one day. She hopes to build a successful future and continue to make her family proud. Valerie shares some advice for the underclassmen, She said,“High school goes by fast, so make sure you stay focused but also enjoy the moments you have with your friends.’’Valerie is leaving SEMHS with a lot of great memories, important lessons and a bright future ahead of her.