This year, Jacqueline Guifarro was chosen by her peers and teachers to be an Outstanding Senior. In her time at Millbrook, Guifarro has proven her excellence time and time again, through her continued academic success in AP and IB classes, her involvement in extracurriculars, and her dedication to helping people.
When Guifarro first started at Millbrook, she was described as quiet and shy, but always very kind and full of potential. Profe Amaguayo, who met Guifarro during her freshman year in her Spanish class for native speakers, remembers her as one of her more quiet students, saying she was always very calm and reserved but that she always worked very hard. [translated from Spanish] “[Guifarro] aims for excellence in everything she does, from the simplest task to the most grand. She is someone who you can count on.”
Mr. Cope also met Guifarro her freshman year in his Blended World History Class and says, “Within 30 minutes I knew she wasn’t in the right class. I really thought she should be in my AP World History class. I can’t remember if I told her to try and get placed into it or not, but I know I really tried to push her to take more challenging courses in the future.”
In her time at Millbrook since, Guifarro has taken on a lot of responsibilities. She is part of many honor societies including National Honors Society, National Achievers Society – which she was the Vice President of her junior year, and is currently the Social Media Liaison for –, Rho Kappa, and Spanish Honor Society – which she was also the Vice President of her junior year, and is currently a Co-President this year. She is also the Co-President of CARE Impact club and a member of the Millbrook Executive Board. All of which she has balanced on top of the International Baccalaureate Program, Advanced Placement classes, and a part-time job.
While others may let the stress of so many responsibilities get to them, Guifarro remains a positive force in the lives of everyone she knows. Senior Kiera Wright is good friends with Guifarro and describes her as, “a perfect ball of sunshine who will never let you down and someone you can full heartedly put your trust in,” and goes on to say, “having her as a friend is knowing you’ll always have someone there for you.” It’s clear that Guifarro is no stranger to showing up for her friends. Kat Machado-Cruz, another of Guitarro’s friends, says, “[Guifarro] is always there when I need help or need to rant.”
Guifarro has always valued service, taking over the CARE Impact club her junior year alongside Wright, and participating in the service projects for National Honors Society and National Achievers Society. Guifarro states, “The whole idea and concept of serving for others has always been like one of my biggest pillars in life.” She goes on to discuss the impact her family has had in her life, saying, “I feel like my parents really influenced me to support others in any way I can.”
Guifarro is of Honduran descent, which has undoubtedly played a major role in shaping her into the person she is today. Growing up with immigrant parents, she has seen first hand the value of hard work and sacrifice. “My parents sacrificed so much for me, and I feel like… since I’m given all these blessings, I should use them in the correct way.” She especially looks up to her older brother, who helped raise her when their parents were busy working to provide for them, “He always taught me how to be a better human being.” It was her brother’s own dedication to service that inspired Guifarro to help others.
Guifarros’s desire to help others is present in her plans for her future career. Guifarro is committed to North Carolina State University where she plans to major in Pre Physical Therapy. While Guifarro did not originally have NC State in mind during her college search, she is excited to attend.
After speaking to Guifarro and learning more about her from her teachers and friends, it is no wonder she was chosen to be an Outstanding Senior. Mr. Segal, Guifarro’s AP Gov teacher her sophomore year says, “She is a role model for what our student body should aspire to be. She challenges herself and then meets those challenges head on and with a great attitude!” Guifarro has a very bright future ahead of her, her hard work and kindness will no doubt get her very far.
