"All the one-on-one attention from the teachers helped me a lot," says Perla. "I got help at HOPE that I didn't get at the other schools I had been to."

Perla's teachers have witnessed her significant growth from someone who didn't understand English well enough to be able to progress academically to a student who successfully tested out of the English Language Learner classification.

The dedication Perla showed in mastering her English language abilities was also present throughout her studies in other subjects at school. Staff at Maranatha Learning Center describe her as a strong student who takes the time to focus on what she needs to do and is always willing to ask for help when she needs it. But her commitment to academics doesn't mean she's all business all the time.

"Perla is a no-nonsense kind of kid who knows when it's time to buckle down and work," says Victoria Aguilar, director of HOPE at Maranatha Learning Center. "Still, she loves to talk and laugh with her friends and with the staff here."

During her time at Maranatha Learning Center, Perla, who says she had faced some bullying when she was younger, was quick to defend other students if they were being treated unfairly. And if other students would be causing disruptions, she had no problem firmly telling them to knock it off.

Perla is very close with her family, including her two older brothers, who also graduated from HOPE. She showed interest in the work that veterinary technicians do, and her senior capstone project included a great deal of research into that field.

The closure of schools last spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic was initially difficult for Perla, who prefers in-school instruction to remote learning. Still, she says that teachers and friends were instrumental in keeping her moving toward her goals.

"My friends and teachers helped a lot during Covid," says Perla. "They were always there for me, always telling me not to let school get me too stressed out."

Perla persevered through the closures and came back to finish the requirements needed for graduation two months early.

While she is not certain about what her plans are immediately following graduation, she hopes to eventually attend college and go on to start her own clothing line.