Vanessa helps her single mother raise seven children. She has often served as the primary caregiver and role model for her five younger siblings. The family lives in a gang-infested area in Santa Rosa in a small house where life is a struggle. School has always been important to Vanessa who is ranked #1 in her class with a 4.1 GPA. She has also assumed a leadership role in the Latino Leadership Program in Santa Rosa, tutors local middle school students, and works at a Head Start program for elementary school children. She is looking forward to attending UCLA in the fall and studying communications.

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