Alondra Gomez, a senior at Carson High School, has a 3.6 grade point average and she is completing her fourth year in the health science program. For these reasons alone, she is worthy of recognition as the Senior in the Spotlight. However, she has many other fine qualities that make her special.
Gomez's classmates, coworkers, friends and family members will tell you that she is smart, funny, caring, hard-working and passionate. She would say it’s because of them.
“My family and some of my closest friends are the reason why I am the person I am today,” she said. “You learn a lot of things from people. Sometimes people that come and go are put into your life to teach you something new.”
Health science teachers Kelly Gustafson and Frank Sakelarios and recently retired teacher Phillip Brady have been some of the people who have taught Alondra lessons in their areas of expertise as well as life lessons. Another big influence has been Ericka Olivas, the mother of an acquaintance, who stepped in when Alondra was struggling with personal concerns.
“Ericka Olivas came into my life when I didn’t like myself,” she explained. “She taught me how to get to know myself and helped me see that there was never anything wrong with me. Now I feel like I can take on anything and still be in good shape.”
These days, when Gomez isn’t diligently studying at school or working long hours at a local grocery store, she carves out time for friends and family.
“As a child, I felt isolated, so now I find time to do just random things with my family and friends.”
With her friend Jocelyn Lamas, they do arts and crafts and with her friend Roxanna Flores they like to go out to eat. Occasionally, she finds time to go to football and soccer games and, as she says, “cheer on our teams and show my school spirit.” With family, she enjoys quiet times just hanging out and watching movies. She particularly loves spending time with her stepfather Gabriel Gomez, who motivates her and tells her to keep going.
While Gomez surrounds herself with loving, supportive people, she says it’s her sister who has had the greatest influence on her life. Her sister died in 2015 just as she was finishing a nursing degree at WNC.
“The reason I want to become a nurse is because of my sister," she said. "She is my role model.”
Even without her sister’s influences, Alondra said she has always known that she would gravitate toward a helping profession.
“I’ve always known that my purpose is to help people,” she said. “I was put on this earth to help people. Even now, at my age, people say I’m a motherly figure.”
Congratulations, Alondra, for being this week’s Senior in the Spotlight, and best wishes toward your bright future.
