Santa Fe High School senior and student leader Christian Sanchez has become a prominent figure on campus for his tenacity and commitment to fostering a sense of community amongst his peers, as well as his unwavering dedication to creating unforgettable experiences for those around him.
As a member of Santa Fe High School’s Associated Student Body (ASB), Sanchez's contributions to the school's social and academic life are undeniable, as he sometimes spends his weekends tirelessly preparing for student activities and assemblies. While juggling his ASB responsibilities, Sanchez has managed to complete 25 honors and Advanced Placement credits – with courses such as Algebra 2 Honors and Anatomy – in the short span of three semesters.
For his motivation to be a student leader and his numerous academic achievements, Sanchez was recognized by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees with an Award of Merit during its April 11 Board meeting.
“I would like to start by thanking the Whittier Union Board of Trustees for honoring me tonight,” Sanchez said during the meeting. “I will always treasure the memories and experience that Santa Fe High School has given me over the past two years. During my time at Santa Fe, I have been able to obtain many academic accomplishments due to the support of all the amazing teachers here … but all of these accomplishments would not have been possible without the support of my family. Thank you for everything.”
Sanchez’s spirit of resiliency developed early on in his life. Although he was born in the United States, his family moved to Mexico when he was three years old. However, Sanchez said that he always longed to come back to the U.S. To ensure he had the best chance of success when he returned, his family encouraged him to learn English. Despite the challenges, Sanchez learned English by watching movies and talking to his older brothers, who were more familiar with the language.
Sanchez was unable to return to the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a delay in his plans to start high school in the States. He had to wait until his junior year to return, when his aunt and uncle welcomed him into their home and provided him with a supportive environment to achieve his academic and personal goals.
Sanchez's compassionate nature and unwavering commitment to his fellow English Learner students at Santa Fe High led him to become the ASB Compensatory Education Representative this school year. In this position, Sanchez dedicates himself to ensuring that his peers feel connected and included in the variety of student activities and opportunities available at Santa Fe High School.
“This year in ASB I learned the importance of hard work, teamwork and how to be more confident in myself,” Sanchez said. “All of my friends in ASB are always pushing me to try new things and get me out of my comfort zone, which has made my senior year unforgettable and special, and I want to make sure I am doing the same for other students. Santa Fe has a really great culture, which makes school feel like home and the people feel like family. I am grateful to all the administrators, counselors, teachers, coaches and security for supporting me throughout this journey and my education.”
To continue giving back to the community that has provided him with so much opportunity, Sanchez has completed many hours of community service, providing peer tutoring to students who have shared a similar experience to his.
Sanchez applied for 13 colleges and universities and received acceptance to the University of California, Irvine (UCI), California State University, Fullerton, California State University, Long Beach, Whittier College, Grand Canyon University and more. Now fully committed to UCI, Sanchez plans to major in environmental sciences.
“Christian’s strong work ethic and drive for success will lead him toward a path full of many opportunities and achievements,” Principal Craig Campbell said. “We are so proud of Christian. He is an amazing young man who exemplifies everything that we want from a graduate of Santa Fe High School and the Whittier Union High School District.”
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WUHSD_MERIT1: For his motivation to be a student leader and his numerous academic achievements, Santa Fe High School senior Christian Sanchez was recognized by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees with an Award of Merit during its April 11 Board meeting.