Senior Edith Villegas’ academic improvement and involvement in
numerous school activities garnered the attention of her teachers
and counselor, and earned her the honor of being named student of
the month at San Benito High School.
Senior Edith Villegas’ academic improvement and involvement in numerous school activities garnered the attention of her teachers and counselor, and earned her the honor of being named student of the month at San Benito High School.
Villegas, 17, said she became motivated to improve her grades, which were primarily Ds as an underclassman, during her junior year. She wanted her parents to be impressed with her academics and hopes to someday get accepted to a four-year university.
“I wanted to make my parents proud so they could say, ‘That’s my daughter,'” Villegas said.
Once she set the goal of improving her grades, Villegas became determined to succeed. She attended tutoring sessions and spoke with her academic counselor and parents for inspiration.
“Willpower helped,” Villegas said. “The hardest part was forcing myself to improve – I was used to doing just average work, so the extra push was hard.”
Villegas improved her grades to primarily As and Bs and joined numerous clubs, including the Associated Student Body, LULAC, and a club for students who wish to become teachers.
Her hard work paid off. Besides being honored as student of the month, Villegas recently learned that she was accepted to California State University at Monterey, and will be receiving an academic scholarship from the California Student Opportunity and Access Program.
Villegas said being named as student of the month was the icing on the cake to the good news she had been receiving lately.
“I wasn’t sure that anyone was noticing,” Villegas said. “There’s lots of other people getting 4.0s, so I thought, ‘No one’s going to pay attention to some improvement.’ But it’s nice that they noticed. It’s the little things that make all the hard work worthwhile.”
The Scoop on Edith Villegas
Full name: Edith Villegas
Age and birthplace: 17, Oxnard
Year in school: Senior at SBHS
Accomplishments: Improving grades, getting accepted to CSU–MB, Cal SOAP scholarship, making my parents proud.
Activities: ASB Up Director of Special Ed., MEChA treasurer, Club Ed., LULAC, volunteer for “Every 15 Minutes” program
Most influential people in my life: My aunt, Lucia Villegas, who passed away. She was a teacher and ever since I was small I wanted to be like her. Also, my parents for their support.
After finishing high school I’d like to: Go to CSU–MB, major in liberal studies and get teaching credentials.
Ten years from now, I’d like to: Teach Spanish at SBHS
Favorite TV show: “America’s Next Top Model”
Favorite band: RBD
Favorite movie: “Toy Story”
Favorite class: Spanish class, because the teacher made it fun.
Favorite teacher: Rachel Flores-Zepeda, because she teaches Spanish and I want to be a Spanish teacher one day.
If I could change one thing about the high school: No more cliques
The SBHS student of the month is selected by counselors and staff at the high school and honored by Rotary.
