She’s passionate about art, empowerment, and service!

Either reading intensely or animatedly engaging with peers at her school through her various clubs, through all that she does she remains genuine to her true self. Connecting to various experiences including almost dying seven times, her obstacles in life are met with anger and frustration at first but develops into opportunities for growth. Through her personal experiences, she is able to empathize and be a compassionate as well as concerned global/local citizen.

Recently named as Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 for 2015, Cecilia has dedicated herself to various causes through organizations like Free the Children and Rotary International. She also is an avid volunteer at her local senior centre and church. And volunteered on the local youth committee at her library while actively working on YWCA’s Youth Advisory Board. She thoroughly supports her school as the school newspaper’s Editor in Chief, Student Body President, and running the school’s branch of FTC. In the community, she helps direct the city program she started: Art2Heart in order to build confidence in youth through the arts.

Her outstanding leadership has led her to receive her city’s SASSY (Service Above Self Surrey Youth) Youth Leader Award 2015 and Surrey’s Top 25 Under 25. And her steadfast service: Surrey Good Deed Award 2014.

Her extensive background in the arts has led to numerous accolades within the explorART Children’s Creative Painting Awards and Exhbitions. From the age of 5 to 16, she won bronze, silver, gold, and technique awards for her work (2004-2015).

She is ready to tackle her next set of challenges with her resilience. However through it all, her faith as a Christian humbles her as it is to Him that she gives all glory because it is through Him that she is able do the things she does.

She cannot wait to see the infinite possibilities the future holds in positively impacting the world! But as of now, she does the best that she can by working hard and chasing dreams!

She hopes that one day that all the children in the world can receive education and feel empowered to make a difference.

Check out my life through pictures here: http://vsco.co/ajourney2success/grid/1