Jennifer Serrano: A Model of Leadership, Perseverance and Character

Jennifer Serrano’s high school diploma from Riverside High School will honor her mother and her brother, both of whom are major influencers in her life. 

As a student, she completes her assignments with excellence.  As a member of the JROTC, she regularly volunteers her time to support training sessions and events and is known among her peers as a compassionate leader and role model. 

“The one person who has made the biggest impact in my life is my mother. She has been a strong encourager and source of motivation and inspiration. She supported my dreams above her own to let me become who I want to be. After my father passed, I wanted to come to the US to live with my brother in search of a better future. My mother supported me and encouraged me to dream big despite knowing that we would be separated,” said Jennifer.

According to her teachers and her ESL team, she is always willing to lend a helping hand, uplifting others with her positivity, motivation, and joyful spirit. Jennifer exemplifies dedication, resilience, and leadership in every aspect of her school and personal life. Her impact is especially evident through her work as a teaching assistant  supporting students in need of additional academic assistance. She also works evenings, weekends, and school holidays in food service. Next year, during her Senior year at Riverside, Jennifer plans to learn barbering skills to add to her growing list of abilities.

Having made the courageous decision to leave her home country and family, she is navigating adulthood with maturity beyond her years while living with her brother. During her time at Riverside, Jennifer has made remarkable strides in mastering the English language, embracing every opportunity to grow in fluency and confidence. 

“I have had the privilege of working with Jennifer since she enrolled at RHS. She is the very definition of resilience and tenacity, approaching every opportunity as a chance to grow while never losing sight of where she comes from. Jennifer demonstrates strong family values rooted in respect and honor. She understands that her success reflects the sacrifices of those who have supported her journey toward a better future. This was especially evident when she asked me to video call her mother on Mother’s Day so she could share her academic progress in the United States. In honoring her mother, Jennifer found both pride and renewed determination to continue making the most of every opportunity,” said Karen Keim, Riverside Graduation Coach.

After graduation, Jennifer plans to enter the military and pursue a Nursing degree.

“My career goals are to become a nurse in the Military and to work hard and to be able to support my mom in the future,” she said.

She wants to give back to her Mom, and she credits her brother for motivating her to excel.

“My brother was unable to finish his high school diploma because after my father's death, he was forced to become the head of the family. He has worked hard so I can attend school. He is my motivation to work hard and to take advantage of my opportunities,” Jennifer said.

As a result, she said, “One success in my life is the growth that I have had since I moved to the US. My English has improved, my perspective of life has changed, and my motivation to learn never stops,” she said. “My biggest accomplishment is my academic success even though my English skills are still developing. I enjoy helping others, especially those who are new to the school. They remind me of when I was new.”

That’s not to say that she hasn’t felt the weight of anxiety.

“The biggest challenges I have experienced were the death of my father and the decision to move to the US leaving behind my mother, my culture, and my comfort,” she shared. 

But her goals continue to drive her ambition, and she pushes through the pain of separation and loss. Being with her brother and other family is helpful, she says.

“One thing that I enjoy a lot is playing soccer. When me and my brother have a day off, we usually go to a soccer field and enjoy each other. I also enjoy family gatherings and even though I am not a great cook, I do enjoy cooking for them,” she said. 

Jose Aleman: Determined to Make a Positive Impact

Jose Aleman represents why Early College opportunities are so important. He is the first in his family to attend college and has just accepted a full ride to Harvard University next year. He has persevered through challenges of Spanish being the primary language spoken at home, yet has consistently excelled academically both in high school and college classes. Jose was also recently named as a finalist National Merit Scholar. He has earned the respect of his peers, teachers, and professors through leadership and service. 

“When I think of people who have inspired me, many people come to mind: my friends constantly encourage, motivate, and push me to be my best self, all while bringing me more joy than I imagined possible. But above all others, my parents are the two biggest figures in my life. Their constant hard work and sacrifices are the sole reason that I have made it this far. More than encouragement, their trust in me and my abilities has driven me to where I am today. Were it not for the two best parents in the world, I would not be sitting here deliberating on which word or phrase sounded best in this email,” said Jose.

After graduation, Jose plans to major in biomedical engineering. He also plans to attend graduate school and work in research. 

“Specifically, I hope one day to become an NIH scientist focused on the treatment and imaging of breast cancer,” he said. “My career goals are to become a researcher, hopefully one day becoming an NIH scientist.”

Jose said he is motivated by being his best. “After all, who else would I be working for but myself? But I have two better answers. As I said before, my amazing friend group is the biggest encouragement in my life. This last year spent with them—and a decade spent with my best friend among them—has radically altered how I see challenges, and also how I view life on a day-to-day basis; my outlook on life has never been brighter, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet them in this lifetime.”

He is also driven by the determination to make the world a better place.

“As for my second source of motivation, that would come from seeing how cancer affects people and their families firsthand. After seeing how cancer can cause the biggest losses and deepest sorrows, I felt it necessary to pool my efforts into helping those in that situation. As the character Zane from my childhood favorite, Ninjago, said: ‘I was built to protect those who cannot protect themselves.’ This line defines the impact I hope to accomplish in my life.”

To that end, he adds that, “One success that I cherish every day is having worked hard enough to have the privilege to stress over work like this. No matter how stressed I am…I always remember how blessed I am to only have to worry about these tasks. One challenge that I faced was overcoming the daunting imposter syndrome that came along with finally achieving some of the things that I never imagined myself doing. During a summer research internship at Duke University, I found myself intimidated by the idea of working in a laboratory—the kind of workplace I thought was only fit for white coat professionals with years of experience who did not look like me—for the first time. It wasn't until immersing myself in the work and culture of the lab that I realized that my dreams were more attainable than I had realized and that the sector of higher education that I was chasing was ripe with people who looked and thought like me.”

Jose said he loves spending time with his friends in his free time.

“Whether we're visiting new cafes, taking strolls through Duke Gardens, exploring Southpoint for the millionth time (there really is no better mall in the area), or simply driving around listening to music, there isn't a dull moment with them. When I'm alone, I sometimes practice chess, which I've loved ever since I was nine. Recently, I have also dabbled in electric circuits and sewing as hobbies (interesting combination, I know).”

He’s proud of having served as a research intern at Duke last summer. 

“More than the money or prestige, I take it to be my biggest accomplishment because it was my first real experience dealing with both research and breast cancer, two things that now define my future plans,” he said. 

The entire J.D.Clement Early College High School community is so very proud of Jose and all that he will achieve after graduation this May. Jose is a very bright student that always has a smile, is a humble spirit, is willing to help out his peers, and who consistently excels academically, according to Lakisha Bostick, School Counselor.