Goleta Magazine 2022-2023 - 46

STUDENT OF THE YEAR
ISABELLA MIRALES
Giving Back in the Goodland
Top: Isabella Mirales
and her family at the
2021 Goleta's Finest
event.
Bottom: Isabella
accepting her award
of Student of the Year.
DIAGNOSED
WITH leukemia
at age 2, Isabella Mireles has
never let cancer get in her way. She
is a shining example of giving back
to the community you love. Now a
junior at Dos Pueblos High School
and cancer-free, she uses her experience
to help others.
Isabella said, " I'm inspired by making
other people's lives easier and
better. I feel a sense of obligation
to help others get
a second chance at life
in the same way that
I did. "
She dedicates
her
time
speaking
about cancer,
encouraging
pediatric
patients,
and working closely
with the Teddy Bear
Cancer Foundation (TBCF). For the
last five years, she has organized
a musical showcase event, raising
over $25,000 for the organization.
" They made my childhood as normal
as it possibly could've been, and
I am forever grateful for that, " she
said. " I want other kids to experience
what I experienced with Teddy
Bear because I can say with absolute
confidence that my fight against
cancer would have been a lot worse
for both my family and me if it had
not been for them. "
Isabella is grateful for her mentors
and supporters. Her parents and sisters
have always encouraged her to
pursue her goals and dreams and
have been there for her in the lowest
times. The Teddy Bear Cancer
Foundation staff, Sharlae Jenkins,
and Bonnie Gerstenfeld, also menBY
VALER I E CANT EL L A
tored and inspired her along the
way.
A true local, Isabella and her family
live in the same house where her
mother grew up. She loves the smalltown
feel of Goleta, along with its
gorgeous views. As a young person,
one of her favorite places was visiting
Fairview Gardens after selecting
a book from the shelves of the
Goleta Library. While her plans after
high school are still to be determined,
we are confident she will go far.
She said, " I want to continue making
a difference in the world and making
other people's lives better. "
Isabella was named the 2021 Student
of the Year and honored at Goleta's
Finest.
46 GOLETA MAGAZINE SBSCChamber.com
http://www.SBSCChamber.com
Goleta Magazine 2022-2023

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