Senior Spotlight- Jocelyn Vasquez

A majority of high schoolers have their future plans in mind and work hard along the way to obtain them. While others take more time to explore different opportunities and search to discover where their true passions lie. One of those students is Senior Jocelyn Vasquez.
She describes high school as a time of her self discovery and personal growth.
“I enjoyed school projects and lessons in which I was able to come to a self realization of my inner and outer self.”
She expresses the benefits of high school as she matured and became a better problem solver along the way. In the earlier years of high school, Vasquez struggled with a lot of self-doubt and
uncertainty about her future. Coming from a less fortunate family background, she didn’t feel like her future was surely aligned. She realized the importance of working hard now in order to
create a better life later. This stamina of motivation pushed her to start volunteering, researching careers, and building her resume so her forthcoming career would be set on stage.
In May of 2024, she landed her first job, which she held until September of that year. Unfortunately, due to being a minor and facing mistreatment at work, she decided to leave the job. Despite the challenges, her senior year turned out to be both the hardest and most successful year yet. She experienced major setbacks, including medical, mental and financial difficulties, but she also experienced a big shift in her future goals.
Originally set on becoming a veterinarian, Vasquez eventually realized that her true passions are in the trades, specifically electrical work. As a young woman, this wasn’t an easy
decision to come to, but after a lot of reflection, she decided to follow her heart. She was accepted into a trade school and will be starting the electrical program at Tulsa Welding School
in July 2025. She also plans to expand her knowledge in HVAC.
¨The idea of a brighter future gave me the motivation to push through the hard times,”Vasquez said.
Outside of school, Vasquez has many hobbies and interests. She loves studying electrical work, spending time with animals, crafting, drawing,baking, writing, and listening to podcasts. She enjoys sharing these interests with the people closest to her, which brings her a lot of joy and peace. After graduation, her plans are clear. She will attend trade school for seven months in the electrical program, followed by two extra months for HVAC training. She plans to work hard, learn her license, and eventually become a full-time licensed electrician. She also hopes to have
her own place, care for animals, and attend livestock shows. Traveling is another dream of hers seeing the world alongside the people she loves is something she truly looks forward to.
This summer she plans to spend her summer with those closest to her, especially doing fun things like swimming or going on road trips.
¨These small moments are important to me and bring balance to my work life¨.
Looking back, Vasquez believes she left her mark on high school through her strength and resilience. Those closest to her have seen what she has been through and how she has pushed
through regardless. This experience gives her confidence for the future, knowing that she is capable of overcoming any challenge life could come with.
During high school, Vasquez was involved in both band and FFA. The hardest part about both was realizing that neither of them would play a role in her future. She joined band in sixth grade and continued into high school. While freshman year was enjoyable, the passion faded during sophomore year due to new people and a loss of interest in the flute. She officially decided to leave band during her junior year. FFA, on the other hand, remained a strong interest. She joined because of her love for animals and so she spent her sophomore and junior years raising lambs. She met amazing people and even someone who would become very important to her. Although she eventually chose not to become a vet, she still values the experience and the growth it led to. The best
parts of both clubs were very different. In band, it was the adrenaline of performing at halftime shows after long hours of practice. In FFA, the joy came from working with the animals, which
was more meaningful to her than the social side of the club.
Not every person Vasquez met in high school made life easier, but each person taught her something. Through these experiences, she learned what values she wanted in the relationships she has with people and which ones to avoid. The people she met helped shape her into a better person, and those lessons will be helpful beyond high school. Vasquez will be graduating not just with memories, but with a clearer path and confidence. Her mindset ¨Nothing sets you back more than giving up¨ will surely lead to a bright future.