LEAD Public Schools

For LEAD Academy seniors Christian Roblero Gomez and Cristian Valdez Lopez, the same first name is far from the only thing they have in common. Both have built their high school experiences around high achievement, seeking out opportunities, challenging themselves, and pushing each other toward ambitious goals.

Since enrolling at LEAD, “the C(h)ristians” have built reputations as academically driven students who take some of the most rigorous course offerings, pursue competitive summer programming, and constantly think about what steps they can take to build a stronger foundation for their futures. That academic drive is especially evident in the courses they take and excel at. “They’ve taken the most rigorous course load available to them and have passed every AP exam they’ve taken,” said Courtney McEwen, LEAD’s director of college and career readiness. “Throughout our school’s history, that is not the norm, and it speaks to how exceptional these students are.”

For Valdez, that drive has meant advocating for opportunities that directly align with his career goals. As someone interested in pursuing a career in business and entrepreneurship after high school, Valdez learned of a brand new course in the AP catalogue.

​“I didn’t think Academy would offer that course otherwise, but it’s directly aligned to what I want to do, so I took it upon myself to ask,” Valdez said. “I was so excited that they listened to the survey feedback and prioritized the class I requested on the AP list for the year.” The experience reflects both Valdez’s efforts to ask for opportunities and LEAD’s willingness to listen to students when shaping academic options around their interests and goals.

That same initiative has carried into the way both students have thought about college preparation since the beginning of their high school careers. Mr. Henley, their sophomore year CREW teacher, noticed their early interest in summer programs and going above and beyond to prepare for college. Henley became an important resource for both students, helping connect them with McEwen and continuing to encourage them as they pursued competitive summer programs. That support was especially meaningful for Valdez, who initially had doubts about applying to Vanderbilt’s summer program because of the competitive nature of the program and the financial barriers associated with it. Henley encouraged him to apply anyway, and later helped him secure a $5,000 grant that made the experience possible.

Roblero has also used summer programming to explore what he wants his future to look like. After receiving a scholarship from the University of Chicago to attend one of its summer programs, he had the opportunity to experience campus life and take courses that introduced him to environmental economics. The experience helped solidify both his interest in the field and his goal of attending UChicago, which he now considers his dream school.

In addition to being students who value their academics, they are both extremely driven in their communities and other aspects of their lives. Roblero has balanced challenging coursework with being a member of the soccer team, working nearly 40-hour work weeks, and being the president of Big Brothers Big Sisters on Campus. Valdez is also a member of the soccer team and has worked with his uncle’s construction business since ninth grade; he hopes to eventually use what he learns about business and entrepreneurship to help his family and give back to his community.

Both students also understand the challenges that can come with being first-generation college applicants, from navigating applications and financial aid to helping their families understand a process that is new to everyone involved. Through those challenges, they have continued to seek out resources, ask questions, and take advantage of the support available to them at LEAD.

As they move through their senior year and prepare for what comes next, Roblero and Valdez are focused on making the most of the opportunities they have worked to create while continuing to challenge themselves academically and personally.

For McEwen, their accomplishments are only part of what makes them stand out. “They’re extremely well-rounded,” she said. “They’re respected by both their peers and their teachers. They’re athletes; they work outside of school and help their families, and they are overall great humans. They are going to do great things and I’m so grateful to be a tiny part of their journeys.”