Originally published in The Vacaville Reporter on November 17, 2016 By Kimberly K. Fu.
Kimberly K. Fu — The Reporter AnaKaren Sanabria, 18, pictured at the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club with her brother, Imanol Juarez, 7, is fundraising for a leadership conference in Washington, DC, that she was chosen to attend.
From a shy girl with a little voice, she’s become an outspoken young woman who speaks for others.
Vacaville High School senior Ana Karen Sanabria is asking the community to help her continue her growth by supporting her bid to attend a youth leadership conference in Washington, DC.
“It’s a really good opportunity, a hands-on conference,” she said Thursday. “I’m so excited.”
Slated for late June, the conference is a once-in-a-lifetime event for a teen who never thought she’d make it to high school.
“I thought I would drop out,” she said, about completing the sixth grade. “They told me, grammar school will be so much different, harder. I said, I didn’t sign up for this.”
Along the way, she met so many supporters who encouraged her, mentors who shaped her.
As she entered high school, she thought she wouldn’t finish. Then she realized she would, but didn’t see higher education in her future.
“I thought I would graduate, stay home, get a job,” she shared.
Recently, she signed up for classes at Solano Community College, where she’ll start in Fall 2017, the first in her family to attend college. She will pursue a Criminal Justice Degree at the University of California, Irvine and then a career with the FBI. “I just like to help people. It’s my passion,” she said.
As a law enforcement official, she believes she can enact change. She wants community members to know that she serves them, that she cares about them as much as she will care for her police brethren.
“We’re all humans,” she said. “We all have human rights. … I want them to know that, no matter what, there’s always going to be people who are there for you.”
This leadership conference will enhance her skills and make her a better person both professionally and personally, she advised.
“I want to learn leadership skills. I want to learn things I don’t know. I want to learn everything,” she said. “And I will share that with my friends.”
Another goal is to watch leaders in action, to get to know them and provide help where she can.
“I’m so blessed to have all of these opportunities,” she said.
Aside from school, Sanabria spends time with Vacaville’s REACH coalition, the Vacaville Boys & Girls Club, and AWARE.
Susan Schwartz, a volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club, described the teen as a team player.
“She’s always been especially helpful and caring and loving. Of all the teens, I always know I can count on her,” she said. “I’ve watched her grow up and she’s always been a great teen to work with.”
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Club Executive Director Anna Eaton agreed.
“Ana Karen has always set herself apart from her peers and her leadership qualities shine through in the projects she’s a part of,” she said. “I would love to see the community rally around her to help her get to DC.”
Sanabria said “words don’t describe” her level of gratefulness. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated.
She needs $3,335 to pay for the trip. The cost includes tuition, flight, meals and ground travel. She hopes to supplement that with money she makes working at Chipotle.
Should she not be able to fund her trip, Ana Karen pledges to return the money raised for it.
A fundraiser of baked goods, jellies, homemade pickles and more is set for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday in front of Lucky’s on East Monte Vista Avenue.
There’s also a Go Fund Me page at www.gofundme.com/2t99s7e2?ssid=808041504&pos=1.
