While most 11th graders are planning for their senior year, Melissa Vasquez is preparing for graduation.
At just 16, this Red Track student is wrapping up her high school journey a full year early, juggling a 10-class course load, growing a small business, and a clear vision for her future. It’s no small challenge, but Vasquez carries it all with a calm confidence that sets her apart.
“I’ve always been the person that, once I set my mind to something, I go for it and don’t let anything stop me,” she said.
That mindset is exactly what led her to launch her own business making dipped sweets and treats at the end of 7th grade. What began as a creative outlet quickly grew into a side hustle with loyal customers and four years of hands-on experience.
“It’s so calming,” Vasquez said about her business. “The details and designs are so pretty, and I just enjoy it. It’s something I’ve stuck with because it brings me peace.”
But behind the beautiful sweets and early graduation is a deeper motivation, one rooted in purpose. Vasquez has her sights set on a career in nursing, specifically in NICU or pediatrics. Her goal? To earn her associate degree by spring of 2026, which is very exciting and also to begin helping the tiniest, most vulnerable patients.
“My passion really comes from looking around at the world and realizing not everyone follows through on their goals,” she said. “I want to be different. I want to make things happen.”
Vasquez’s day-to-day life reflects that passion. After school, she heads home to rest briefly before diving into hours of schoolwork, balancing a full academic load to meet her graduation goal. It’s a sacrifice that comes with challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining a personal life.
“Sometimes it’s hard to balance school and life outside of it,” she admits. “I’m really focused on school right now, and sometimes that means I don’t do as much for myself. But I want to start finding that balance and start putting myself first, too.”
Through it all, Vasquez stays grounded in her values. She proudly and confidently describes herself as kind, respectful, and trustworthy. Those who know her would likely agree that those three words fit perfectly.
With her being one of my closest friends, I can confidently say that she fits those characteristics. She is one of the people I became friends with sophomore year in math class. We then realized how much we have in common. We soon realized that we could both graduate early. I believe that brought us closer together. Also, the fact that we both have the same career interests. She is one of the friends I can confide in.
All things aside, much of her strength, she says, comes from her father.
“My dad always motivates me to keep pushing forward,” she said. “He’s always told me to ‘be the leader, not the follower.’ That stuck with me. It’s shaped how I move through life.”
Vasquez was born and raised in L.A. County before moving to her current community at the end of fourth grade. She’s one of six siblings—five girls and one younger brother—and deeply values her family, her faith, and her roots.
“If I could give my younger self advice,” she said, “I’d say trust in God. He really does help guide you along the way.”
In a world where it’s easy to get caught up in trends or slow down when things get hard, Vasquez stands out for her determination, maturity, and heartfulness. Whether she’s designing elegant dipped strawberries or pushing through a heavy course load, her approach to these difficult habits stays the same, and that is to work hard, stay kind, and keep the end goal in sight.
Vasquez also hopes to give back, whether that’s in her school, her future hospital, or her broader community.
“I want to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “I want to show others that if you’re determined, if you really care about your goal, you can do it. It’s never too late.”
She also lives by a quote that reflects her personality perfectly: “A charming woman doesn’t follow the crowd; she is herself.”
As she prepares to walk the stage this May of 2025, Vasquez isn’t just graduating early, but she’s stepping into a future she’s already started building, one step, one treat, and one goal at a time.