Two Medina Valley ISD seniors overcame significant challenges and made notable accomplishments in the face of adversity. Medina Valley High School senior Cara Garcia demonstrated resilience and excellence in her sport after overcoming a life-threatening car accident. Although senior Annika Forrest had a challenging start to her education, having moved schools and grown up on food stamps, she graduated in the top 20 at MVHS.
Cara maintained strength and faith as she recovered from her accident, upholding a positive spirit for herself and those around her. The Medina Valley community, including Cara’s peers, teachers, and coaches, came together to support her with prayers and encouragement. Cara is an accomplished volleyball player, so volleyball teams across Texas wore green ribbons to show their support for her during this difficult time. After recovering from her accident, Cara received the honor of Girls Heart and Hustle Athlete of the Year from the San Antonio Express-News Alamo City High School Sports Awards.
Annika was born to teenage parents, and because her father is an active-duty U.S. Air Force airman, she has moved across multiple states and attended 11 different schools. Moving and starting over at numerous schools can make it challenging to establish a solid educational foundation and feel confident in one’s potential. However, Annika credits her teachers at Medina Valley High School for pushing her and showing her she can achieve her goals. She actively engaged with her classes, joined the speech and debate team, and participated in UIL competitions. In addition to her school involvement, Annika explores photography as a creative outlet.
Cara will be attending Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where she will continue to learn and thrive. Annika will be attending the University of Texas at Austin, where she plans to study biology with the goal of becoming an OB-GYN. These two resilient seniors demonstrated immense perseverance and determination, showing that there is hope for a bright future despite life’s obstacles.
Sources: Medina Valley ISD Facebook, FOX San Antonio Website
Blog by: Nina Cairo, Intern, UT Austin
