Local Student Aranza Guerrero Accepted to 90 Universities Nationwide

This fall, 17-year-old Aranza Guerrero will embark on the next chapter of her impressive scholastic journey when she begins her first semester as a freshman at American University in Washington, D.C. 

The senior at Cesar Chavez Learning Academies (CCLA) in the City of San Fernando not only gained admission to her top-choice school – where she will be a double major in political science and international relations – Guerrero was accepted into a staggering 90 universities nationwide.

Guerrero, who is a straight-A student and student body president at CCLA, said she felt both happy and astounded to see 90 acceptances when she checked the college application platform she used to apply to 20 universities. The automated app sends out additional applications to other schools across the country based on a student’s grades, accomplishments and academic interests.

“It was insane – I couldn’t believe it at first,” recalled Guerrero with a laugh. “I felt very proud of myself, because I knew that I had put in a lot of time and effort – not just during my senior year, but over the last four years in AP [advanced placement] classes and college courses and just so many long study nights, and all of that really paid off in the end.”

Guerrero’s sense of accomplishment was matched by the joy and enthusiasm expressed by her family – her parents, Rafael Guerrero and Nadia Abrica, and her two brothers. 

“My dad was very surprised and my mom was crying,” recounted Aranza Guerrero. “They were both so happy and excited, especially because I’m the first generation in the family to [go to college]. It was very inspiring to see their reaction. … They were very, very proud of me.”

“She’s very mature and very responsible [and], honestly, it doesn’t surprise me that she got [accepted] to 90 universities,” said Abrica, adding that her daughter understands both hard work and sacrifice. “She’s been living sacrifices with us as parents. She used to help at our restaurant after school … and she remembers how sad Mom and Dad were when we lost the restaurant. 

“She’s not a child who goes home to sleep or watch TV or waste time on social media,” Abrica continued. “Aranza has earned [everything] that she has accomplished.”

“I’m very proud of the only little girl that God gave me,” said Rafael Guerrero, who runs PB Tires in Sylmar. “I believe Aranza is going to do well not just for herself and her family, but I strongly believe that she will [do great] for the entire country of the United States.”

Aranza Guerrero said she’s grateful for her parents’ dedication to their family, and for “all the work they’ve been putting into supporting me with all of my academics for the last four years.”

Both of her parents have worked hard for their three children, who were raised in Sylmar and the City of San Fernando. Abrica said her husband used to deliver pizzas, and she worked cleaning homes, selling homemade foods, and helping her husband run the family restaurant in Sylmar before it was shuttered after the COVID pandemic. Today, Abrica has her dream job as a professional campaign coordinator.

“I feel proud to tell people that I used to clean bathrooms. … I did everything I had to do, and sacrificed and worked so many jobs to help take care of my family,” said Abrica, who has also been a community volunteer, organizing support groups and entrepreneur workshops for women.

Inspired by her parents’ work ethic and her mom’s commitment to community and local politics, Aranza Guerrero said she chose American University because she thinks it’s the ideal school – in the right location: Washington, D.C. – to pursue her studies and make connections for a career in politics. She said she wants to be involved in enacting laws and policies, and standing up for all people, including “her people” as a Latina and child and grandchild of Mexican immigrants.

Abrica and her husband are actually not immigrants in the traditional sense, she explained. They were both born in the United States after their parents immigrated here, but as young children their families decided to return to Mexico, where they were both raised. The couple eventually met by chance and were surprised to learn they shared parallel life stories, recounted Abrica.

As young adults they returned to the U.S. together and started their family.

“But right now it doesn’t matter where you were born; if you’re Latino, this administration is hunting you,” said Abrica. “But we’re not … what they’re saying. … We’re not criminals [and] we’re not raising criminal children. We are raising good children for this country.”

Aranza Guerrero’s desire to take action and make a difference has already been demonstrated. She was a main organizer for CCLA’s student walkout on Feb. 6.

“We wanted to inspire other students in our school and in our communities, to show them that … we do have the power to make our voices [heard],” explained Aranza Guerrero. “Innocent people are being terrorized, and [we] need to stand up and make a change.”

That’s precisely what makes Abrica feel most proud and happy – that her daughter will help inspire others, especially other young Latinas from similar backgrounds, who are also growing up in low-income or working-class households with immigrant parents.

“I’m very, very grateful that my daughter, a child who does not come from a rich family, a brown child of Mexican immigrants, can motivate other kids,” said Abrica. “I want other kids to be able to look at her [accomplishments] and say to themselves, ‘Aranza did it. I can do this, too.’’’