San Bernardino high schooler headed to Harvard after getting into more than 30 schools

Silvana Vazquez is the valedictorian at San Gorgonio High School in San Bernardino, who will soon be headed to Harvard University after beating the odds and earning a full ride scholarship to the extremely competitive institution. Joy Benedict reports.

[@benjaminbarker6451]

SO happy for you and your family.well done.

[@Felix-ld3hn]

cases like this, a life trajectory altered. especially with full ride to Harvard, it changes her life forever

[@richmartin5361]

Full ride are for the low income people.

[@Felix-ld3hn]

@@richmartin5361 not necessarily

[@jamiezenichi1017]

Congratulations! That is an amazing accomplishment and you have and you have bright future. Pick a major that will make you financially successful as well.

[@nilcesoares9708]

Reminds me of my acceptance in '88 -- brings tears of joy to my eyes remembering that time of my life + no one deserves it better than a young Latina like her

[@scifirealism5943]

Beautiful.

[@TedEhioghae]

Why does she deserve it more from being Latinoamericana?

[@MrLuk700]

Pretty impressive. But note according to HR recruiters what school you went to doesn’t matter; your work experience is what companies really look for. Having a related degree just checks the box. I worked as a travel nurse during the Covid pandemic and made 120hours because of the Covid pandemic. Whenever recruiters call me for travel nurse contracts especially during the pandemic the HR department never asked where I went to school. They asked if my RN license was valid and how many experience I had. College is cool and good for her. But you don’t need to go to an Ivy League school to be successful.

[@ultimatum7600]

true, but that's not what this video is about (its pretty DARN impressive)

[@MOTV583]

You're a registered nurse, you can go to some community colleges and be a RN, it's not the same thing. If you want to go to Wall Street, D.C., practice law, medicine, or do research then your school definitely matters. Not only that, but Harvard has one of the most influential alumni networks in the world. She can search up anyone that went to Harvard that works at, or owns, any company she wants to work at, and get an interview directly. She can also raise funds for any endeavor she wants from Harvard grads and families of Harvard grads. Some of the people she goes to college with, and maybe befriends, will be leaders in business and politics, and they'll pick up her calls. Harvard campus is one of the few places in the world where someone with her background can live with the .01% for four years. World leaders, business leaders, royalty, and celebrities send their children to Ivy league schools like Harvard. She may share classes, dorms, teams, and clubs with some of them. It all comes down to how much she takes advantage of the opportunities she'll have at Harvard. Also, many of the biggest companies send recruiters to Harvard campus to court those students directly. It's a different world.

[@KimTrinhMD]

I am Asian and I think this young lady is amazing and deserves to be at Harvard. Overcoming poverty, and the odds this is what America should be about.

[@harrychu650]

Applying to 40 University would cost between $3,500 to $4,000. Who paid for that?

[@beast02cortez85]

some are free

[@graciejefferson202]

Poorer schools get wavers, aka free applications

[@jazlyn2721]

Common app it’s free just put you need a fee waiver for 20 schools. A lot of schools actually have turned to free applications to lower their acceptance rate.

[@Goals9]

@@jazlyn2721I didn’t no that I am applying to schools close to the end of this year it is no joke

[@bubblegirl55]

snice she is first gen, all the fee waivers are waived, aka for her its free

[@Orudelpha]

Have you guys considered the fact that maybe she actually has a good GPA and test scores? It's not always about race. While it is true that many colleges seek out diversity, they are still very strict and want people who they know will do well academically. We should be happy that others are reaching these achievements. It's not like only minorities are only being accepted. Regardless of race, everyone deserves to succeed and have opportunities. We need to stop holding resentment towards others who have achieved something great for themselves. I rather people be achieving great things in life instead of being horrible and putting others down

[@Orudelpha]

Yeah, unfortunately people focus too much on being negative these days and doubting other people's abilities. Even when something positive happens they still find ways to bring negativity into it. This country is very divided and people are too busy being at each other's throats, dragging each other down that we can't even unite as one and face an actual threat to us citizens. I value critical thinking and thinking about all the potential people can bring. I just wish others could see the good in others

[@Rin-gn5by]

Nearly everyone that applies has a perfect gpa and test scores???? Val’s/sals get rejected all the time. I’m just genuinely curious to what made her stand out other than low income

[@Orudelpha]

There's more that goes into the process of how colleges accept people aside from good grades or being a top student. Yes, they do look at people with outstanding academic performance but that isn't only criteria. It is unfortunate that some top students don't make it but they only accept a limited amount of people. It can depend on how soon you send in your application, your letter that you write to the college, some colleges look for letters from students that have faced many struggles in their life and how they pushed through and still did well regardless of those struggles. Sometimes they do look for low income/needy students who are desperate for education, it definitely is possible. I mean there was a homeless student who was a hard worker, did outstanding in class, and got into Harvard. It is possible but it is still very competitive because so many students apply to these top colleges so not everyone will get accepted even if they are outstanding. But they will definitely reject you if your academic performance isn't outstanding

[@Orudelpha]

Oh and also they look for people who have a history of getting involved with school events and extra curriculars

[@Galaxia2025]

I hope I get into MIT i'll try to update this comment if I actually get in ,, it's been my dream school since forever and I won't give up on it no matter what

[@dann547]

My condolences.

[@otvirani]

Who were the 9 schools that rejected her?!

[@airbender9593]

I knew nothing and didn’t understand what my parents try to teach me. I was board at school… I wrote my name in SAT which set my SAT School. I think she has the perfect recipes to get into her dream School. I could dream or think beyond my local colleges congrats for her. As a minority, what if I say the most deserving regardless of skin color/background should be accepted. So it is purely based on merit and other things…

[@NBTV916]

I would be more impressed if she ended all homelessness in America

[@Ocelotl1491]

Beautiful!

[@ilovedherinspring]

70000% deserved

[@2cupojoe136]

30 school acceptances does not inspire.

[@jesusbeliever3891]

Congratulations 🎉 GOD BLESS US ALL IN JESUS NAME THANK GOD AMEN JOHN 3:16 JESUS FORGIVES HEALS AND SAVES

[@DemPilafian]

Reviewing a college application takes time and resources. This game of applying to an absurd number of universities in order to brag about how many acceptance letters you got is horribly wasteful. This selfish practice needs to stop.

[@trumpetermb-1117]

Wow that's so inspiring that you got into Harvard University ........ Just make it to your senior year of college .......... read this comment .......... P.S. ( You Will Think Me Later ).

[@kas8131]

It still has some prestige, but hopefully that will continue to plummet

[@1525boy]

Why does anyone respect Harvard anymore?🤔

[@ricodelavega4511]

4.8 GPA doesnt exist, that just means the school is padding the grades. Its 4.0. Congrats mija. You should learn a native language, like yucatec maya, so you'll get more dinero for la harvard.

[@jqtc]

4.8 does exist. Weighted gpas scale up to 6.0

[@musicgenius1948]

Ever heard of the notion of a weighted and unweighted gpa? This is a stupid comment

[@Jrjfbdkev]

weighted gpa's exist meaning you can get above a 4.0

[@ricodelavega4511]

@@jqtc huh, no way would she get into harvard with 4.8 out of 6, thats an 80

[@jqtc]

@@ricodelavega4511 all i know is that harvard has their own way of determining people based on gpa, but im certain that you have a way higher advantage having a gpa over 4.0. i dont think they put it over 6 the moment you have over a 4.0, i think its still a 4.8/4.0, but what i meant is that the highest gpa that you can have is not a 4.0 but a 6.0, because there are classes provided by cambridge international and college board that are college level courses and weigh out of 6.0, which is why its called a weighted gpa because it considers the level of classes taken.

[@NatalieTirado-ny9zj]

ok the school accepts anyone now but lets see u graduate 😂😂 🎉 1:33

[@johnnyMathis-b8e]

Harvard a total waste of time. Learn how to be a social justice warrior.

[@Vorgaloth]

Look up James Lindsay's talk at the European Parliament.

[@TheAmelia0820]

Looks like someone's mad

[@Validoe]

💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@axidhaus]

She smarter than all the races. She beat with her low scores.

[@tednguyen7258]

cuz latinos dont study...she just has to beat no one

[@lionheart93]

Only if Harvard remained prestigious as it once was. Still congrats

[@bigtaskat-hand4742]

It is prestigious, you didn't get in 😂!

[@dennypg3d105]

@@bigtaskat-hand4742😂

[@Staypostin1017]

G mob

[@alvarotorres9057]

I’ve been seeing a lot of these stories lately and I’m starting to wonder if schools are just accepting everyone. Also, in these stories, they rarely mention what classes the student excelled.

[@pjscafe]

All the ivy League schools lowered their standards to accept blacks and Mexicans

[@4FYTfa8EjYHNXjChe8xs7xmC5pNEtz]

Well, a lot of them don't accept white kids.

[@DanH-u3f]

She checked the Latino box.

[@taxfree4603]

A very dismissive and racist comment, good job

[@ericdraven4445]

@@taxfree4603in which way? It’s the truth. Don’t be so sensitive

[@taxfree4603]

@@ericdraven4445 because he is insinuating the only reason she got accepted was because of her race and not because of her intelligence. Also, how do you know its the truth if you are not who made the decision to accept her.

[@ericdraven4445]

@@taxfree4603 because it’s a known fact that all these schools are REQUIRED to accept “people of color”. Just watch the news and you can see all of a sudden these Mexican and black kids are being accepted by 30+ schools. One got accepted to over 100

[@fasdfasdf1783]

@@taxfree4603 pointing out the obvious.

[@calspyro]

affirmative action... i got into all my schools.. 2003.. i wasn't on the news. hmmmm...

[@graciejefferson202]

The reason she’s on the news is because she is from a poor school and got into Harvard. You probably didn’t get into a prestigious school but getting into Harvard while not having as many opportunities is seriously impressive because it’s an uphill battle, many of the other applicants had advantage over her because of her wealth. Also affirmative action isn’t a thing anymore… hmmm seems like you’re jealous of a minority’s success

[@calspyro]

@@graciejefferson202 great.. i graduated lincoln high school.. also a poor af school... and actually i'm a minority myself... just that i'm on the asian side .. where affirmative action doesn't help us for colleges... and trust me i am definitely not jealous... i gaurantee you that

[@bigtaskat-hand4742]

​@calspyro yes you are 😂!

[@calspyro]

@bigtaskat-hand4742 hmm let's see.. I make a quarter million dollars a year... from growing up in a poor neighborhood.. really I don't think so

[@calspyro]

@@bigtaskat-hand4742 like I said.. affirmative action speaks for itself

[@temle7489]

I bet she has no Asian classmates to compete with LOL

[@thediner8929]

Diversity….

[@Truth72500]

Harvard became a trash riot school

[@OneshotMovement]

College is pointless.😅

[@tednguyen7258]

if she was asian with same results she would be headed to community college

[@Sweety9045]

What more do you expect? She excelled in school. Since 5th grade she dreamt of Harvard, which indicates she aimed to put the work in from a very young age. In addition: valedictorian, on her school’s board, top of her class, and received a topping 4.8 gpa. “There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character…”

[@tednguyen7258]

as i said shes smart for a latina but probably at most average for an asian....thats why asia as a whole is rich....japan...korea...china..taiwan and latin america is poor and dangerous

[@MFin-o6l]

Ridiculous... if she were Asian with the same credentials, the place she is likely to get into is a top state university.

[@philos_theos]

Indoctrination

[@ericdraven4445]

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