Ashley Manquero may be shy, but don’t let that fool you. She’s determined to make sure that she goes to and through college.
Her higher education institution of choice is Bowdoin in Brunswick, Maine, a private liberal arts college.
Students attending OCTECHS and Odessa Collegiate Academy, both located on the Odessa College campus, can earn college credit while still in high school.
Manquero will be among those walking the stage at Odessa College’s graduation scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday in the Ector County Coliseum.
She earned an associate degree in business leadership with an emphasis on management from Odessa College. Her high school graduation will be at 6 p.m. May 20 at the OC Sports Center.
She said she knew she would go on to college, but wanted to make sure and going to OCTECHS was one way to do that.
Being a first-generation student, there was always a fear that she might not go to school, even though she planned to, so she had to make sure she was going to.
She said she liked a lot of the schools in New England and they offered good financial support and had good reputations among employers.
Manquero plans to study psychology.
“I’d like to be a clinical psychologist. I don’t know which direction yet just because I’ve had some interest in human trafficking … and also just helping people like me, like first-generation Hispanic women specifically,” she said.
Up until a few weeks ago, Manquero was the salutatorian, but she just found out she got the valedictorian spot.
Achieving this goal made her realize that all the college applications and struggles were worth it.
“It’s a big deal for my family, as well,” Manquero said.
She added that she thinks being able to earn an associate degree and a high school diploma is beneficial.
“… It does put me ahead. I think because I’ve had experience with actual professors, the actual content and the campus, so I kind of think I know how to navigate a little bit better …,” Manquero said.
She added that the relationships she’s built at OCTECHS have helped her and she hopes to do the same at Bowdoin.
She added that she likes OCTECHS because you can take advantage of the OC facilities and resources like tutoring and the library with its supply of computers to help students excel.
Manquero was on the student council and Be the Change, book clubs, environment club and she was in National Honor Society briefly and Texas Scholars. She also worked with the Crisis Center of West Texas since it ties in with what she’d like to pursue after college.
If she were offering advice to younger students who want to reach valedictorian or the top of their class, Manquero said they should learn how to balance between their lives and academics.
“Don’t strive for that goal just because of things other than your actual, genuine love for learning … You have to have a purpose and that purpose has to be something that you can strive for without hurting yourself and then being too toxic about it,” she added.
Principal Karl Miller said Manquero is like a quiet wave that slowly builds. She doesn’t seek the spotlight, but her drive, momentum and passion have driven her to the top of her class.
“We kind of all went through the same tragedies here with … the first year of school, then the second year had that mass shooting. Then we had COVID. Her leadership with students and the student body has been pretty steady. There was was no freaking out. There was how can we get back to normal, but stay safe. It’s been really nice just to know that we’ve all made it. Through all this, and the things that happen in life, she still is that force that … says I’m not going away,” Miller said.
“It’s not offensive. It’s just, I’m going to do it. And what’s really cool is she’s well respected and well liked by all of her peers, as well as our faculty,” Miller added.
