A pretty and bright young woman by the name of Leticia will graduate from George Washington High School this week. She reminds me of another young woman near and dear to my heart. I met her less than a year ago. She is American born, and her parents are of Mexican descent. Her mother died when she was just a toddler and her mother figure is a maternal aunt who has helped raise Lety and whom she loves dearly.

We are continually impressed by a young woman with high goals and extremely high energy, and yet she possesses a low-key approach to life and oftentimes pensive nature. We’ve come to know her aptitude, her strong work ethic, her charming ways and her desire to be constantly involved. She impresses with her endless energy and commitment to volunteering with nonprofit organizations, many of whom help her own culture, youth and the community in general.

Lety has not been herself for the past couple of months. Another maternal aunt, whom Lety loves and admires is very ill and is not expected to live much longer. Her aunt’s illness has taken a toll on Lety and while she helped organize school events like prom, her heart was someplace else. In spite of this personal tragedy Lety remains involved in the community, still organizing other fellow volunteers to help out whenever needed. We should all take a lesson from the pages of her young life.

Lety drives to and from her part-time job every week committed to a few hours of whatever office work awaits her. She is typically coming from school or from an event where she has just volunteered or on her way to one where she intends to participate. And at the young age of 18, she has given more of her time than most adults do in a lifetime.

We see great accomplishments by our young star. She will say good bye to George Washington High School and her friends very soon. She will also soon say adios to her beloved aunt at a time in her life when she most needs family, she will thank the woman who stepped in for her mother, and she will move into life’s destiny, complete college and become a respected member of the same culture, she so freely gives to. All of life’s experience will contribute to the very caring nature of a young woman headed for success. Our never-ending gratitude, respect and congratulations enter into the pages of Lety’s life.