Josie’s Journey to Success

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Josie Lopez is a successful Senior Student and standout here at Gilbert High School.

Her own journey began when she was born in the Garden Grove Hospital on August 17th, 2006. She was raised in the City of Santa Ana. Josie has two sisters and two brothers and is currently staying at her parents-in-law’s house.

Josie’s childhood was very fun. Her mom always celebrated her birthday by taking Josie and her siblings out to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm.

Josie attended Lowell Elementary School as a kid located in Santa Ana, for Josie were the most fun years. They would do many activities and Josie would look forward to going to school because all the teachers made school fun and exciting to go to. Josie never struggled during those years. It was always easy and never stressful. Josie was never a troublemaker in school, but later her attendance and bad grades would get her into messy situations.

Josie’s junior high and high school years were very bumpy. She would rarely go to school and would often miss weeks of school at a time. She felt that school wasn’t really important to her. Josie wouldn’t get in trouble, but her absences and low grades always put Josie in jeopardy.

Josie’s home High School was Valley High School, but she only went there for a few weeks before being assigned to a continuation school through Valley High. Josie wasn’t very successful there because she felt she was too lazy to go to school. Josie thought it wasn’t important for her to go to school.

She admits to not doing much work during her freshman through junior years. She would miss school and never do any homework or classwork. Once Josie hit her senior year, she found out she was pregnant. It was then that she realized things needed to change.

“it wasn’t going to be all about me anymore,” she reflects. Josie realized graduating is a very big and important part of her life, especially now that she is becoming a mom herself.

Josie then moved and transferred to Gilbert High School. During Josie’s first days at Gilbert High School she told herself that this is the biggest and last chance to graduate on time, and to actually get her life together for herself and for her baby.

Josie’s first big change occurred when she transferred to Gilbert. She improved her attendance. Josie’s senior year at Gilbert High School was so different from her past high school years. Josie started coming to school more than usual. She felt successful going to Gilbert High School. Josie became inspired by so much motivation she needed from her lovely teachers that brought so much excitement to her.

In school Josie showed improved progress. She got all her classes done on time and is now graduating!

Josie plans to attend Cypress College and is very excited to start something new and big. Josie also plans to study to become an ultrasound technician. That has always been one of Josie’s interests. Going to college now for Josie would mean a big life-changing experience once she’s out of high school.

Josie would like to thank Mr.Bonales for all the support and motivation he always gave her ever since she stepped foot on the campus here at Gilbert High School. It means a lot to Josie to have Mr.Bonales as a teacher in school, changing her perspective in life and pushed her to do better and reminding her to never give up.

Josie would also like to thank Mrs.Barrios-Gracian for all the motherly advice and knowledge she passed on to her and her classmates. Josie thought she was going to struggle and suffer with her baby until Josie met Mrs.Barrios-Gracian.

“She is filled with love, care, and support. I consider her a second mom. She is real about everything and just wants the best for us young moms,” she said. That’s what Josie appreciates most and hopes that other young moms that end up in Gilbert High school have a chance to meet that amazing wonderful loving teacher.