“Hard work + Dreams + Dedication = Success” is a formula that easily defines Barron Collier High School senior Colin Laughrey. Growing up, Colin’s parents taught him to work hard, regardless of immediate results. This advice helped him get to where he is now: a fourth-generation pilot receiving his pilot’s license at the age of 17 and soon attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. During high school, Colin played lacrosse and golf, was the President of DECA, and was part of the National Honor Society and Junior States of America (JSA). All of these activities plus the friendships he developed made high school a memorable experience. Colin’s advice to rising seniors is to “take it slow and have fun. Get involved as much as you can. When you dive deep into your school, there is a lot you can do and a lot you can find out about yourself and what you’re interested in.”

You never know when your passion and purpose will reveal itself. For Isaac Guigma, a student at eCollier Virtual Academy, it happened during a discussion with a family friend who is a traveling nurse. Learning about this profession sparked his interest and passion for nursing. Isaac shared that “the fact that you get to go home knowing you made a patient’s day a tad bit better” made him want to pursue a career as a traveling nurse. Isaac is a dedicated young man who worked hard to earn the required credits to graduate high school early. “Whatever you do, just do it big” was the best advice he has received and he is definitely keeping true to those words. Isaac will soon be attending Norfolk State University on a full scholarship to pursue a degree in nursing.

Eventful. Transformative. Hectic. Taylor Dahlke uses those three words to describe her senior year at Everglades City School. She describes life in Everglades City as a unique experience with a tight-knit community and small classes that become their own little family. “It’s nice to be so close to so many people and know other people are looking out for you.” Taylor excelled academically and was a four-sport athlete (cross country, volleyball, basketball, and softball). She will now take the love and support she received in her hometown of Everglades City to Florida State University in the fall where she will study Criminal Justice and Criminology. She strives to chase her dream of becoming a child advocacy attorney. Taylor leaves some advice to rising seniors: “take many pictures, live in the moment, and soak up all the time you have in high school, because it goes by really quick!”

Melanie Sanchez, senior at Golden Gate High School, reflects on her four years of high school and realizes how much she has gone through and how far she has come. Even with the uncertainty that came with being a freshman, living and learning through a pandemic, and then easing back into attending school in person, Melanie describes her senior year as the most smooth and heartwarming of them all. Melanie was very dedicated to academics and extracurricular activities through her high school years and that perseverance paid off during the college application process. Being the first in her family to attend college, Melanie worked hard to research colleges, complete applications, seek out scholarships, and take care of everything she needed to in order to ensure she was ready to continue her education after high school. The hard work paid off! Melanie will be attending Harvard University on a full scholarship to pursue a dual degree in physiology and economics. While visiting the Harvard campus, Melanie had the opportunity to hear one of her idols, Raj Chetty, in a class about social economics. She shared that “he spoke about EXACTLY what I wanted to study.” That night, as she looked up to the sky while in a hammock in the middle of Harvard, she reflected and thought to herself, “I got here! I did it.”

Madyson Polanco spent her time at Gulf Coast High School embracing the power of school spirit, unity, and hard work. Being a student during the pandemic gave rise to unseen challenges and obstacles that altered the “typical” high school experience. As President of her school’s Spirit Club, Madyson considers it a great accomplishment to have helped return school spirit to pre-pandemic levels. Her efforts led her to one of her favorite memories, beating Gulf Coast’s rival at the last home game as a senior. Sports have always been an important part of Madyson’s life and thanks to her exercise science teacher, Mrs. Chirco, she found her passion in sports medicine. Knowing she can combine her love of sports and her strength in science to fulfill her dreams, Madyson will be attending the University of Florida to major in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology on a pre-medicine track in hopes of becoming a sports medicine physician. Madyson looks forward to being able to give back to her community, helping athletes recover from injuries and get back to doing what they love the most.

Joel Eli Guerrero, from Immokalee High School, is the type of young man you can get lost in conversation with. His humble personality shines as he gently explains his accomplishments, goals, and love for his family. With well over 100 volunteer hours, multiple scholarships, participation in academic clubs, and dual enrollment credits, Joel is graduating ranked #1 in his class. His greatest accomplishment: being one of only six students in Florida to receive the University Life Fellowship Scholarship valued at $40,000. Joel plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University for his Bachelor of Science followed by attending the University of Florida in pursuit of becoming a dentist. Growing up, he spent many hours watching his mom work as a dental hygienist. This developed his interest and passion in dentistry. Looking ahead ten years, Joel plans to return to his hometown of Immokalee to work at The Healthcare Network, giving back to the community that helped him.

Vanessa Corsi, senior at Lely High School, moved to the United States from Venezuela at the beginning of her seventh-grade year. She encountered many of the challenges that come with moving to a new country – language barriers, a new school system, and a different culture – all challenges that followed her throughout high school and into the college application process. However, Vanessa persevered and worked hard every step of the way, now graduating at the top of her class and heading to Tufts University to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. Her passion for engineering sparked in an eighth-grade robotics class. It was the first opportunity she had to participate in a STEAM activity and she instantly fell in love with it. Vanessa has been very involved with high school engineering classes and clubs. She was instrumental on her school’s solar go-kart team – enjoying even the stressful moments when it seems a problem cannot be solved, only to persevere and find a solution. She describes that as the “best feeling in the world, just knowing that YOU actually solved it.”

Joodlhy Charelus, a senior at Lorenzo Walker Technical High School, is a very impressive student. If you have the chance to meet her, you instantly learn she truly has a heart of gold. Throughout high school, Joodlhy has been active in many extracurricular activities from being in Student Council, National Honor Society, and working on the yearbook to serving as Secretary in the Nursing Club and participating on the Step Team. Earlier this year, she was awarded “Youth of the Year” from the Boys and Girls Club of Collier County. Joodlhy will not only graduate with a high school diploma, but also a certification in Licensed Practical Nursing and an associate degree from Florida SouthWestern State College. She will soon attend Florida Gulf Coast University and continue her studies in nursing with the goal of working in labor and delivery. Looking to her future, Joodlhy plans to move back to Naples after college and give back to her community.

There are certain skills in life you simply cannot teach – self-confidence, compassion, and generosity are a few. Lauren Connell, a senior at Naples High School, has each one of those traits. Lauren has had a passion for STEAM subjects from a young age. Reflecting on herself and her future goals during the college application process led to her choice to attend Florida State University and participate in the Honors Medical Scholars Program. This will fast track her into medical school and her goal of becoming a Surgical Oncologist. Throughout high school, she was extremely involved in extracurricular activities including Academic World Quest, Scholar Bowl, Junior States of America (JSA), and Student Government. During her time outside of the school day, Lauren has spent countless hours volunteering her time to teach kids and adults with disabilities how to sail. Lauren leaves some advice for incoming freshman: “Don’t stress about the small stuff. The more comfortable you are with yourself, the better you will do in school and the further you will go.”

It can take one person, one decision, or just one moment to change a life. Sonia Lountchenko, a senior at Palmetto Ridge High School, unknowingly met that person and had that moment her sophomore year in a Travel and Tourism class. She calls Mr. Topping “the most influential teacher of her entire school career.” His way of teaching and making students want to learn influenced Sonia to challenge herself and take an Advanced Placement US History class where she discovered a love for American History. She will now be taking that love to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., on a full athletic scholarship (cross country) to study political science. Sonia has an impressive academic and athletic footprint at Palmetto Ridge. She was President of the National Honor Society and participated in Key Club, band, cross county, and track & field. Sonia will undoubtedly succeed in pursuing her dreams and writing her own history.