Grade: 12 School: Cesar Chavez Community School  District: Yolo County Office of Education ACSA region: 3 When Maribel Zaragoza became pregnant at the age of 14, she made the choice to build a positive future for herself and her daughter. She immediately worked on parenting skills and looked for strategies to provide a strong developmental and social-emotional foundation for her child.  Understanding that education directly impacts financial security and stability, Maribel created goals and concrete plans to achieve them. She started going to Yolo County Office of Education’s Cesar Chavez Community School in 2017, eventually enrolling in the Yolo County Construction Program. She proved to be a calm, thoughtful and influential leader in both the classroom setting and at the worksite, all the while continuing to raise her daughter. On Nov. 8, 2019, Maribel graduated with a fully accredited high school diploma at the age of 17. She plans to continue her education and work toward a job with advancement opportunities, so that she can build a successful future for her and her daughter and new baby boy. What are your hobbies and interests? I was successful in school and graduated early, in November of my senior year. My primary interest is in the culinary profession. Since graduating and using my Food Handlers Certification, I have started my own home-based business called Lalazsweetz. I focus on small customized orders, and have fun with the creativity they give me. The most important thing I can share with you about myself is that I love being a “Mama” to my babies. They are my hobby, my sport, and the focus of my life. I have a daughter and a son who are my motivation for everything. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve overcome to get where you are today? My biggest challenge has been the emotional challenges that come with loss. I lost my brother and my boyfriend within four months of each other. I have persevered through that grief to continue to provide a happy and stable home life for my kids and for myself. My biggest obstacle in school was moving and being pregnant. Those two things can cause a student to really fall behind in school. At one point in high school I was credit deficient, but I knew my education was important to my future and I pushed myself to be successful in school. What educator helped you along the way and how did they help you? A very special educator named Kristen helped me along my crazy journey. She has become a very special person in my life. I consider her family. Kristen has helped me mentally and physically in many ways. I am very grateful for her and I’m glad we met. What advice would you have for students facing similar situations? I would tell other students who face challenges of their own that they have the ability to be happy. If you find the positive in your days and you work towards your goals, you will feel proud and stable and confident and happy. Overcoming challenges is a success. What does it mean to win this award? Winning this award means a lot to me. It reminds me that I have a lot to look forward to in my pursuit of happiness and my goals. It reinforces my potential and motivates me.