Growing up with so many animals and having siblings who were raised in a small town we still visit frequently, I’ve been exposed to animal care and farm life. Throughout the years of having so many animals, we’ve dealt with both the fun experience and joy they can bring to life, and also the trials and tribulations of sickness, lameness, and sometimes death. Having to make decisions on an animal's recovery and quality of life is one of the hardest aspects of having animals. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. My dog Hoho is my first experience falling in love with an animal, and his loss to old age was heartbreaking and unexpected, as we still thought he had years left with us. Losing animals is never easy, but I want to expand my knowledge and learn the best way to provide all animals with long lives and the best care I possibly can. I believe becoming a veterinarian is the best way to do that while also working for other families and helping them provide the same. I’ve been accepted to Washington State University, which has one of the best veterinary programs around, and I’ll strive to achieve that dream. With the goal of being a veterinarian in mind, I took a Veterinary Science course in my junior year of high school to learn and challenge my knowledge, and see if this field was a good fit for me. At the end of the semester, I took a Veterinary Assistant Precision exam, achieving a Washington State Veterinary Assisting Certification. I also joined FFA in the same year and competed in Tacoma with my team in a Veterinary Science competition. In addition, I also volunteered with my local Humane Society. I’m also a member of the Honor Society, and a member of ASB, Key Club, and Red Cross through my school. I just finished my last year of gymnastics, and had the opportunity to compete at State in Bellevue, qualifying on both vault and beam. My next step is shadowing a small town veterinary clinic over spring break. Coming from a family where much of my life has been supplemented by my siblings, I feel the need to ease that burden as best I can. College is expensive and not something either of my siblings got to experience. I want to limit the debt I may have to take on in the eight years of my higher education, and not have to rely so much on people who didn’t have a say in me being born, but stepped up anyway, and sacrificed in the process. I was extremely lucky to have the devotion I received, and the best way I can repay those sacrifices is to work hard and achieve my goals. My success will be a family achievement that I will do everything within my power to accomplish through dedication that has been modeled to me my entire life. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love. I do my best to prioritize my school first, and take on as much as I can to improve myself and my range of knowledge, and further my goals. I’m driven not just for myself but also for the people around me and my love of animals. I believe when you strive for something, the best success comes when you do it not just for yourself, but also for the people who mean the most to you.

Growing up with so many animals and having siblings who were raised in a small town we still visit frequently, I’ve been exposed to animal care and farm life. Throughout the years of having so many animals, we’ve dealt with both the fun experience and joy they can bring to life, and also the trials and tribulations of sickness, lameness, and sometimes death. Having to make decisions on an animal's recovery and quality of life is one of the hardest aspects of having animals. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. My dog Hoho is my first experience falling in love with an animal, and his loss to old age was heartbreaking and unexpected, as we still thought he had years left with us. Losing animals is never easy, but I want to expand my knowledge and learn the best way to provide all animals with long lives and the best care I possibly can. I believe becoming a veterinarian is the best way to do that while also working for other families and helping them provide the same. I’ve been accepted to Washington State University, which has one of the best veterinary programs around, and I’ll strive to achieve that dream. With the goal of being a veterinarian in mind, I took a Veterinary Science course in my junior year of high school to learn and challenge my knowledge, and see if this field was a good fit for me. At the end of the semester, I took a Veterinary Assistant Precision exam, achieving a Washington State Veterinary Assisting Certification. I also joined FFA in the same year and competed in Tacoma with my team in a Veterinary Science competition. In addition, I also volunteered with my local Humane Society. I’m also a member of the Honor Society, and a member of ASB, Key Club, and Red Cross through my school. I just finished my last year of gymnastics, and had the opportunity to compete at State in Bellevue, qualifying on both vault and beam. My next step is shadowing a small town veterinary clinic over spring break. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love. I do my best to prioritize my school first, and take on as much as I can to improve myself and my range of knowledge, and further my goals. I’m driven not just for myself but also for the people around me and my love of animals.

My name is Ellianna Guirado. I’m the youngest of three children, with an older sister, Alyssa, who’s 33, and a brother, Skyler, who is 28. I live with my mother, who’s struggled with heart disease since I was an infant. Much of my care has fallen to my older siblings, particularly my sister Alyssa, who takes on much of my expenses to ensure I had the childhood she didn’t. My mother has struggled with her health for much of her life, and in 2017, she had a heart attack at the age of 41 and underwent triple bypass open heart surgery, which has limited her ability to work and what she’s able to commit to in terms of my activities. My sister shows up for me for everything from dances and sports such as tennis and gymnastics to school, and volunteer work when I need a parent or adult in attendance. I’ve been blessed with being able to focus much of my time and energy on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities, along with my plethora of animals, because of the sacrifices of my siblings, who had much younger parents. My hope is to one day be a veterinarian and help repay the dedication I’ve been given through the success of fulfilling my own dream. Throughout the years of having so many animals, we’ve dealt with both the fun experience and joy they can bring to life, and also the trials and tribulations of sickness, lameness, and sometimes death. Having to make decisions on an animal's recovery and quality of life is one of the hardest aspects of having animals. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. My dog Hoho is my first experience falling in love with an animal, and his loss to old age was heartbreaking and unexpected, as we still thought he had years left with us. Losing animals is never easy, but I want to expand my knowledge and learn the best way to provide all animals with long lives and the best care I possibly can. Coming from a family where much of my life has been supplemented by my siblings, I feel the need to ease that burden as best I can. College is expensive and not something either of my siblings got to experience. I want to limit the debt I may have to take on in the eight years of my higher education, and not have to rely so much on people who didn’t have a say in me being born, but stepped up anyway, and sacrificed in the process. I was extremely lucky to have the devotion I received, and the best way I can repay those sacrifices is to work hard and achieve my goals. My success will be a family achievement that I will do everything within my power to accomplish through dedication that has been modeled to me my entire life. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love. I do my best to prioritize my school first, and take on as much as I can to improve myself and my range of knowledge, and further my goals. I’m driven not just for myself but also for the people around me and my love of animals. I believe when you strive for something, the best success comes when you do it not just for yourself, but also for the people who mean the most to you.

My name is Ellianna Guirado. I’m the youngest of three children, with an older sister, Alyssa, who’s 33, and a brother, Skyler, who is 28. I live with my mother, who’s struggled with heart disease since I was an infant. Much of my care has fallen to my older siblings, particularly my sister Alyssa, who takes on much of my expenses to ensure I had the childhood she didn’t. My mother has struggled with her health for much of her life, and in 2017, she had a heart attack at the age of 41 and underwent triple bypass open heart surgery, which has limited her ability to work and what she’s able to commit to in terms of my activities. My sister shows up for me for everything from dances and sports such as tennis and gymnastics to school, and volunteer work when I need a parent or adult in attendance. I’ve been blessed with being able to focus much of my time and energy on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities, along with my plethora of animals, because of the sacrifices of my siblings, who had much younger parents. I’ve had two dogs, one of which I’ve had since I was three, who passed almost two years ago. I keep chickens, and in the past also ducks and rabbits. In addition, I currently have four rescue cats. My hope is to one day be a veterinarian and help repay the dedication I’ve been given through the success of fulfilling my own dream. With the goal of being a veterinarian in mind, I took a Veterinary Science course in my junior year of high school to learn and challenge my knowledge, and see if this field was a good fit for me. At the end of the semester, I took a Veterinary Assistant Precision exam, achieving a Washington State Veterinary Assisting Certification. I also joined FFA in the same year and competed in Tacoma with my team in a Veterinary Science competition. In addition, I also volunteered with my local Humane Society. I’m also a member of the Honor Society, and a member of ASB, Key Club, and Red Cross through my school. Coming from a family where much of my life has been supplemented by my siblings, I feel the need to ease that burden as best I can. College is expensive and not something either of my siblings got to experience. I want to limit the debt I may have to take on in the eight years of my higher education, and not have to rely so much on people who didn’t have a say in me being born, but stepped up anyway, and sacrificed in the process. I was extremely lucky to have the devotion I received, and the best way I can repay those sacrifices is to work hard and achieve my goals. My success will be a family achievement that I will do everything within my power to accomplish through dedication that has been modeled to me my entire life. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love. I do my best to prioritize my school first, and take on as much as I can to improve myself and my range of knowledge, and further my goals. I’m driven not just for myself but also for the people around me and my love of animals. I believe when you strive for something, the best success comes when you do it not just for yourself, but also for the people who mean the most to you.

My name is Ellianna Guirado. I’m the youngest of three children, with an older sister, Alyssa, who’s 33, and a brother, Skyler, who is 28. I live with my mother, who’s struggled with heart disease since I was an infant. Much of my care has fallen to my older siblings, particularly my sister Alyssa, who takes on much of my expenses to ensure I had the childhood she didn’t. My mother has struggled with her health for much of her life, and in 2017, she had a heart attack at the age of 41 and underwent triple bypass open heart surgery, which has limited her ability to work and what she’s able to commit to in terms of my activities. My sister shows up for me for everything from dances and sports such as tennis and gymnastics to school, and volunteer work when I need a parent or adult in attendance. I’ve been blessed with being able to focus much of my time and energy on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities, along with my plethora of animals, because of the sacrifices of my siblings, who had much younger parents. I’ve had two dogs, one of which I’ve had since I was three, who passed almost two years ago. I keep chickens, and in the past also ducks and rabbits. In addition, I currently have four rescue cats. My hope is to one day be a veterinarian and help repay the dedication I’ve been given through the success of fulfilling my own dream. Coming from a family where much of my life has been supplemented by my siblings, I feel the need to ease that burden as best I can. College is expensive and not something either of my siblings got to experience. I want to limit the debt I may have to take on in the eight years of my higher education, and not have to rely so much on people who didn’t have a say in me being born, but stepped up anyway, and sacrificed in the process. I was extremely lucky to have the devotion I received, and the best way I can repay those sacrifices is to work hard and achieve my goals. My success will be a family achievement that I will do everything within my power to accomplish through dedication that has been modeled to me my entire life. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love. I do my best to prioritize my school first, and take on as much as I can to improve myself and my range of knowledge, and further my goals. I’m driven not just for myself but also for the people around me and my love of animals. I believe when you strive for something, the best success comes when you do it not just for yourself, but also for the people who mean the most to you.

My name is Ellianna Guirado. I’m the youngest of three children, with an older sister, Alyssa, who’s 33, and a brother, Skyler, who is 28. I live with my mother, who’s struggled with heart disease since I was an infant. Much of my care has fallen to my older siblings, particularly my sister Alyssa, who takes on much of my expenses to ensure I had the childhood she didn’t. My mother has struggled with her health for much of her life, and in 2017, she had a heart attack at the age of 41 and underwent triple bypass open heart surgery, which has limited her ability to work and what she’s able to commit to in terms of my activities. My sister shows up for me for everything from dances and sports such as tennis and gymnastics to school, and volunteer work when I need a parent or adult in attendance. I’ve been blessed with being able to focus much of my time and energy on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities, along with my plethora of animals, because of the sacrifices of my siblings, who had much younger parents. I’ve had two dogs, one of which I’ve had since I was three, who passed almost two years ago. I keep chickens, and in the past also ducks and rabbits. In addition, I currently have four rescue cats. My hope is to one day be a veterinarian and help repay the dedication I’ve been given through the success of fulfilling my own dream. Growing up with so many animals and having siblings who were raised in a small town we still visit frequently, I’ve been exposed to animal care and farm life. Throughout the years of having so many animals, we’ve dealt with both the fun experience and joy they can bring to life, and also the trials and tribulations of sickness, lameness, and sometimes death. Having to make decisions on an animal's recovery and quality of life is one of the hardest aspects of having animals. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. My dog Hoho is my first experience falling in love with an animal, and his loss to old age was heartbreaking and unexpected, as we still thought he had years left with us. Losing animals is never easy, but I want to expand my knowledge and learn the best way to provide all animals with long lives and the best care I possibly can. I believe becoming a veterinarian is the best way to do that while also working for other families and helping them provide the same. I’ve been accepted to Washington State University, which has one of the best veterinary programs around, and I’ll strive to achieve that dream. With the goal of being a veterinarian in mind, I took a Veterinary Science course in my junior year of high school to learn and challenge my knowledge, and see if this field was a good fit for me. At the end of the semester, I took a Veterinary Assistant Precision exam, achieving a Washington State Veterinary Assisting Certification. I also joined FFA in the same year and competed in Tacoma with my team in a Veterinary Science competition. In addition, I also volunteered with my local Humane Society. I’m also a member of the Honor Society, and a member of ASB, Key Club, and Red Cross through my school. My next step is shadowing a small town veterinary clinic over spring break. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love.

Growing up with so many animals and having siblings who were raised in a small town we still visit frequently, I’ve been exposed to animal care and farm life. I’ve had two dogs, one of which I’ve had since I was three, who passed almost two years ago. I keep chickens, and in the past also ducks and rabbits. In addition, I currently have four rescue cats. Throughout the years of having so many animals, I’ve dealt with both the fun experience and joy they can bring to life, and also the trials and tribulations of sickness, lameness, and sometimes death. Having to make decisions on an animal's recovery and quality of life is one of the hardest aspects of having animals. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. My dog Hoho is my first experience falling in love with an animal, and his loss to old age was heartbreaking and unexpected, as we still thought he had years left with us. Losing animals is never easy, but I want to expand my knowledge and learn the best way to provide all animals with long lives and the best care I possibly can. I believe becoming a veterinarian is the best way to do that while also working for other families and helping them provide the same. I’ve been accepted to Washington State University, which has one of the best veterinary programs around, and I’ll strive to achieve that dream. . With the goal of being a veterinarian in mind, I took a Veterinary Science course in my junior year of high school to learn and challenge my knowledge, and see if this field was a good fit for me. At the end of the semester, I took a Veterinary Assistant Precision exam, achieving a Washington State Veterinary Assisting Certification. I also joined FFA in the same year and competed in Tacoma with my team in a Veterinary Science competition. In addition, I also volunteered with my local Humane Society. I’m also a member of the Honor Society, and a member of ASB, Key Club, and Red Cross through my school. My next step is shadowing a small town veterinary clinic over spring break. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love. I do my best to prioritize my school first, and take on as much as I can to improve myself and my range of knowledge, and further my goals. I’m driven not just for myself but also for the people around me and my love of animals.

My name is Ellianna Guirado. I’m the youngest of three children, with an older sister, Alyssa, who’s 33, and a brother, Skyler, who is 28. I live with my mother, who’s struggled with heart disease since I was an infant. Much of my care has fallen to my older siblings, particularly my sister Alyssa, who takes on much of my expenses to ensure I had the childhood she didn’t. My mother has struggled with her health for much of her life, and in 2017, she had a heart attack at the age of 41 and underwent triple bypass open heart surgery, which has limited her ability to work and what she’s able to commit to in terms of my activities. My sister shows up for me for everything from dances and sports such as tennis and gymnastics to school, and volunteer work when I need a parent or adult in attendance. I’ve been blessed with being able to focus much of my time and energy on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities, along with my plethora of animals, because of the sacrifices of my siblings, who had much younger parents. I’ve had two dogs, one of which I’ve had since I was three, who passed almost two years ago. I keep chickens, and in the past also ducks and rabbits. In addition, I currently have four rescue cats. My hope is to one day be a veterinarian and help repay the dedication I’ve been given through the success of fulfilling my own dream. Coming from a family where much of my life has been supplemented by my siblings, I feel the need to ease that burden as best I can. College is expensive and not something either of my siblings got to experience. I want to limit the debt I may have to take on in the eight years of my higher education, and not have to rely so much on people who didn’t have a say in me being born, but stepped up anyway, and sacrificed in the process. I was extremely lucky to have the devotion I received, and the best way I can repay those sacrifices is to work hard and achieve my goals. My success will be a family achievement that I will do everything within my power to accomplish through dedication that has been modeled to me my entire life.

My name is Ellianna Guirado. I’m the youngest of three children, with an older sister, Alyssa, who’s 33, and a brother, Skyler, who is 28. I live with my mother, who’s struggled with heart disease since I was an infant. Much of my care has fallen to my older siblings, particularly my sister Alyssa, who takes on much of my expenses to ensure I had the childhood she didn’t. My mother has struggled with her health for much of her life, and in 2017, she had a heart attack at the age of 41 and underwent triple bypass open heart surgery, which has limited her ability to work and what she’s able to commit to in terms of my activities. My sister shows up for me for everything from dances and sports such as tennis and gymnastics to school, and volunteer work when I need a parent or adult in attendance. I’ve been blessed with being able to focus much of my time and energy on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities, along with my plethora of animals, because of the sacrifices of my siblings, who had much younger parents. I’ve had two dogs, one of which I’ve had since I was three, who passed almost two years ago. I keep chickens, and in the past also ducks and rabbits. In addition, I currently have four rescue cats. My hope is to one day be a veterinarian and help repay the dedication I’ve been given through the success of fulfilling my own dream. Growing up with so many animals and having siblings who were raised in a small town we still visit frequently, I’ve been exposed to animal care and farm life. Throughout the years of having so many animals, we’ve dealt with both the fun experience and joy they can bring to life, and also the trials and tribulations of sickness, lameness, and sometimes death. Having to make decisions on an animal's recovery and quality of life is one of the hardest aspects of having animals. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. My dog Hoho is my first experience falling in love with an animal, and his loss to old age was heartbreaking and unexpected, as we still thought he had years left with us. Losing animals is never easy, but I want to expand my knowledge and learn the best way to provide all animals with long lives and the best care I possibly can. I believe becoming a veterinarian is the best way to do that while also working for other families and helping them provide the same. I’ve been accepted to Washington State University, which has one of the best veterinary programs around, and I’ll strive to achieve that dream. With the goal of being a veterinarian in mind, I took a Veterinary Science course in my junior year of high school to learn and challenge my knowledge, and see if this field was a good fit for me. At the end of the semester, I took a Veterinary Assistant Precision exam, achieving a Washington State Veterinary Assisting Certification. I also joined FFA in the same year and competed in Tacoma with my team in a Veterinary Science competition. In addition, I also volunteered with my local Humane Society. I’m also a member of the Honor Society, and a member of ASB, Key Club, and Red Cross through my school. My next step is shadowing a small town veterinary clinic over spring break. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love.

My name is Ellianna Guirado. I’m the youngest of three children, with an older sister, Alyssa, who’s 33, and a brother, Skyler, who is 28. I live with my mother, who’s struggled with heart disease since I was an infant. Much of my care has fallen to my older siblings, particularly my sister Alyssa, who takes on much of my expenses to ensure I had the childhood she didn’t. My mother has struggled with her health for much of her life, and in 2017, she had a heart attack at the age of 41 and underwent triple bypass open heart surgery, which has limited her ability to work and what she’s able to commit to in terms of my activities. My sister shows up for me for everything from dances and sports such as tennis and gymnastics to school, and volunteer work when I need a parent or adult in attendance. I’ve been blessed with being able to focus much of my time and energy on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities, along with my plethora of animals, because of the sacrifices of my siblings, who had much younger parents. I’ve had two dogs, one of which I’ve had since I was three, who passed almost two years ago. I keep chickens, and in the past also ducks and rabbits. In addition, I currently have four rescue cats. My hope is to one day be a veterinarian and help repay the dedication I’ve been given through the success of fulfilling my own dream. Growing up with so many animals and having siblings who were raised in a small town we still visit frequently, I’ve been exposed to animal care and farm life. Throughout the years of having so many animals, we’ve dealt with both the fun experience and joy they can bring to life, and also the trials and tribulations of sickness, lameness, and sometimes death. Having to make decisions on an animal's recovery and quality of life is one of the hardest aspects of having animals. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. My dog Hoho is my first experience falling in love with an animal, and his loss to old age was heartbreaking and unexpected, as we still thought he had years left with us. Losing animals is never easy, but I want to expand my knowledge and learn the best way to provide all animals with long lives and the best care I possibly can. I believe becoming a veterinarian is the best way to do that while also working for other families and helping them provide the same. I’ve been accepted to Washington State University, which has one of the best veterinary programs around, and I’ll strive to achieve that dream. With the goal of being a veterinarian in mind, I took a Veterinary Science course in my junior year of high school to learn and challenge my knowledge, and see if this field was a good fit for me. At the end of the semester, I took a Veterinary Assistant Precision exam, achieving a Washington State Veterinary Assisting Certification. I also joined FFA in the same year and competed in Tacoma with my team in a Veterinary Science competition. In addition, I also volunteered with my local Humane Society. I’m also a member of the Honor Society, and a member of ASB, Key Club, and Red Cross through my school. My next step is shadowing a small town veterinary clinic over spring break. I’m not afraid of hard work. My animals are my life and what I would call my first love.