Photo courtesy of WRA Architects.

Helena Aranda is a senior at W.T. White High School whose involvement in many extracurricular activities reflects a piece of advice from her mother.

“You only live once and you can never take it back, so try as much stuff as you want and maybe one day it could become your passion,” Aranda’s mother told her.

Her story was highlighted in Dallas ISD’s news site.

Helena Aranda. Photo courtesy of Dallas ISD.

Aranda is the senior class president, vice president of the Dallas ISD Teen School Board, president of HOSA-Future Health Professionals, junior varsity cheer captain, and a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Health Science NAF Academy and varsity cheer team.

She wants to become a nurse, following in her mother’s footsteps. She plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin.

“Making my mom proud is my biggest accomplishment,” Aranda says. “My mother didn’t get the chance to go to college. When I got accepted to UT Austin, we were crying; she said I was doing what she couldn’t do, and I was living out her dreams.”