“My name is Giovanna De Ornellas, I am 16 years old, and I am Brazilian. I came from Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. I moved to the U.S when I was 13 years old and only studied at Four Corners since then. I play soccer and volleyball; I have been part of the school team for 2 years.

In Brazil me and my family we had a good life, but my parents wanted to give me a better future, mainly because I was entering adolescence. So we moved here, and my siblings were born here so that we can have a better future that in Brazil we cannot.

I want to study medicine in college, because I like to help people, and my two grandmothers are doctors, so I have them as inspiration and seeing them helping people in the field of health inspired me a lot. It would be very pleasant for me to take care of people in a critical condition and then see them leaving the hospital well, it makes me happy seeing them happy, seeing the family celebrate, so basically that is why I want to do medicine.

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Giovanna Assano

Senior Giovanna de Ornellas holding the flags of her origin.

I have not decided which university I want to go to, but I do have offers, even to play soccer. But it is important to me to stay in Florida, because I have a younger sister and a brother to be born, so I want to stay close to them, to my family.

Someone who was essential in my high school was Mr. Gomes because he helped me in the days that I felt lost, and he also helped me in the college process as an immigrant here, my academic record was all structured by him and I am grateful for him.

If I could give someone some advice it would be to not give up even though it is hard, if you need help do not be afraid to ask, if someone offers you help, accept! In life we grow helping each other, if you don’t help others, they won’t help you either.”