Senior Success Story: Selma High student didn't know English in 2022, now top 25 of her class

SELMA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Alondra Macias Frayle arrived astatine Selma High School astatine the commencement of her inferior twelvemonth successful 2022.

She, her parent and her 2 brothers moved conscionable a twelvemonth aft her begetter passed distant from an illness.

"It was similar truly hard to beryllium successful a antithetic spot with antithetic languages, antithetic people, antithetic lifestyle," Alondra said.

She had nary friends and didn't talk English.

"At the beginning, I utilized Google Translate for everything," Alondra said.

She would construe her enactment from English to Spanish and past again from Spanish to English to crook successful her assignments.

Despite doing treble the work, she persisted with the words of her precocious father, Rodolfo, successful her mind.

"He ever said to america we person to beryllium amended than anyone else, and that motivates me," Alondra said.

She leaned connected her English Language Development teacher, Rosemary Montoya, for support.

Montoya says Alondra thrived successful an acquisition environment.

"She conscionable has that thrust to privation to bash amazing," Montoya said.

Montoya says Alondra asked however she could improve, and that's erstwhile Montoya suggested Alondra commencement speaking English.

From there, Montoya says Alondra blossomed.

"She has each the level classes that each the juniors and seniors have, she's taking it," Montoya said.

Now, nearing graduation, Alondra volition transverse the signifier arsenic 1 of the apical 25 students successful her class.

She's besides been awarded the SHS Character Award for her hard enactment and perseverance.

"She's going to bash well. She's going to beryllium a trailblazer," Montoya said.

While Alondra says her younger aforesaid would've ne'er imagined she'd beryllium capable to execute everything she has, she's blessed to beryllium here.

"It's really, truly awesome. I'm truthful amazed astir this, conscionable honored to beryllium present and I'm truthful proud," Alondra said.

Alondra plans to be Reedley College successful the autumn earlier yet transferring to Fresno State.

She hopes to 1 time go a dentist.

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