SoCal teen is graduating from high school. And college. And another college

A student carried graduation regalia and honors home in a plastic bag that snapped, spilling cords, pins, stoles, and medallions. She is graduating from high school, having already graduated from a community college, and is set to graduate from another college next month, earning a high school diploma and four associate’s degrees. She keeps moving and says she sleeps, but her schedule leaves little time for games, TV, or other downtime. She estimated she spent about an hour over two and a half years playing Xbox and had not used a Nintendo Switch her father gave her. She spoke at a college commencement, quoting faith as a decision to believe a dark road will lead to sunrise, and described waking as early as 5 a.m. to review assignments before classes.

"More than 2 pounds of honor cords, pins, stoles and medallions - a stash rivaling that of a supreme Allied commander - crashed to the dirt outside the 18-year-old's Adelanto home. That's when the high school senior came to a realization. "I was going to need a bigger bag," Contreras said with a smile. "It's been a busy year.""

"Contreras is graduating from Hesperia High School on Thursday after graduating last week from Chaffey College, and she'll graduate next month from Victor Valley College. She'll have a high school diploma and four associate's degrees to go along with a personal drive to maximize every second of her time. "Sometimes my friends ask, 'Do you even sleep?'" Contreras said. "And I tell them, 'Of course - I'm well-rested,' but I'm always moving.""

"Her pursuit of excellence has come with sacrifices. Contreras estimated she'd spent about an hour over the last 2½ years playing her Xbox game console and hadn't touched the Nintendo Switch her father gifted her for Christmas 2024. "It's been crazy," she said. "I love to play, but I don't have the time.""

"Faith is a decision you make to believe that the dark road you're traveling on will eventually yield to a sunrise," she said, quoting Christian authors Tony Evans and Chrystal Evans Hurst. Contreras has traveled the long, tough road. Daily, she would awaken as early as 5 a.m. to review homework assignments before beginning class at 7 a.m. at Hesperia High."

Read at Los Angeles Times