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Ventura County Office of Education — Inspiring Stories form the Ventura County Class of 2025

by Community Contributor • June 3, 2025 • Comments Off

June 2025

Inspiring Stories from the Ventura County Class of 2025

The students graduating from Ventura County’s high schools in 2025 are entering a world full of uncertainty. Our nation’s political divisions seem to be at an all-time high, the economy is experiencing wild fluctuations, and the relentless march of artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market in ways we’re only beginning to understand. At the same time, our educational institutions from preschool to higher education are facing threats to their funding like never before.

Despite these challenges, our graduating seniors are full of promise and possess an intense commitment to making a positive impact on our nation and our world. I am very excited to share some of their inspiring stories with you. They include a student from Ukraine who is building a new life in the United States and a first-generation college student from an immigrant family who is pursuing a career in the Navy to give back to the country that has given him so much. These students are living proof of the power of public education to build bright futures and shape the leaders of tomorrow. Please join me in extending heartfelt congratulations to the high school seniors in the Ventura County Class of 2025.

Dr. César Morales

Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

Region’s Top Girl Scout is Standing Up for LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

Lola Forbes-Black

Royal High School

As she prepares to graduate from Royal High School in Simi Valley, Lola Forbes-Black has already built an impressive record of advocating for issues she believes in, even when it’s far from easy. Born and raised in Ventura County to parents who moved from the UK to work in the entertainment industry, Lola has been a Girl Scout for 13 years.

Son of Immigrants Charts a Course in Naval Engineering

Elias Garcia

Santa Paula High School

For Elias Garcia, success has always started at home. As the son of Mexican immigrants, he grew up in a family of six where hard work and determination were everyday values. “When I was 12 or 13, I would go to work with my dad,” Elias said. “He works at an auto body shop and has lots of tools, and I would always be playing and messing around with them.” That’s where his love for engineering really began.

Ukrainian Student Builds a New Life in Ventura County

Kateryna Shkil

Oak Park High School

When Kateryna Shkil moved to the United States from Ukraine in 2021, she didn’t expect her new life in California to become permanent. Her family had planned to stay just long enough for her to finish ninth grade. Then, everything changed when Russia launched its attack against Ukraine.

Unstable Housing Situation Didn’t Keep Her from Pursuing Her Dreams

Isabelle Tiscareno

Rio Mesa High School

Imagine trying to make it through high school without knowing where you’ll be sleeping each night, without access to the internet, and without an easy way to get to campus. That was the reality for Isabelle Tiscareno, who is about to graduate from Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard, despite the tremendous roadblocks she had to overcome.

Troubled Teen Finds a New Start at Specialized School

Yandel Zarate

Phoenix School

About halfway through his first year of high school, Yandel Zarate was struggling. He was having difficulty adapting to the large campus of more than 2,000 students and lacked the confidence to express what was wrong or ask for help. He was skipping class so frequently that it became clear he needed a change of scene.

From War-torn Syria to Ventura County: One Student’s Journey

Rawan Abboud

Buena High School

Moving to a new school can be difficult for any student, but it was especially challenging for Rawan Abboud, who started her freshman year at a school on the other side of the world. Rawan had immigrated with her family to Ventura County from Syria, which had been engulfed in a brutal civil war for more than a decade.