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Shiloh Lopez is among TIDE Academy’s second graduating class since the school’s inception in 2019. The 17-year-old’s entrepreneurial spirit shone through when she took part in the creation of the school’s student government system during her freshman year. In the fall, she plans to study economics at California State University at Fullerton.
Despite her accomplishments, Lopez didn’t have college in her future plans. It wasn’t until her junior year that college became a possibility.
“There’s been so much struggle with the economy today and I’ve been looking for jobs, but it appears that if you want to get a good paying job, you need a college degree,” said Lopez, who lives in Redwood City. “I even have a whole plan to get a doctorate at this moment.”
Growing up, Lopez moved frequently. At the age of 9, she moved from a small town in Mexico to the United States and throughout middle school she switched schools every year. Her experience at TIDE was different and allowed her to develop relationships with the community. She’s grown close to the faculty, staff, and has made strong friendships over her four years of high school.
Lopez has been active in planning school events for her peers and displayed a strong work ethic through her involvement in TIDE Associate Student Council.
She describes TIDE as her second home. As a newer school, Lopez said “there wasn’t much going on” and so every project and event she worked on felt like her “baby.”
As the oldest of five siblings in a low-income family, Lopez also holds the responsibility of setting an example for her younger siblings.
“I have to teach my siblings that there is another pathway. We don’t have to follow the same loop of low income and not striving for more,” said Lopez. “There’s other pathways we can follow. There’s more chances out there.”
As a first-generation student, Lopez navigated the college application process on her own, which she described as a “struggle” and “complicated process.” It took her months to get through but with the help of her teachers and counselors, Lopez was finally accepted into four universities.
When it came to choosing a school, Fullerton seemed to be the perfect fit. After touring the university, Lopez felt that it had a similar environment to TIDE: “Chill, calm and nerdy.”
She’s hoping to join clubs for entrepreneurs, start-ups or even starting her own.
Along with the excitement comes nerve-racking emotions. It’s finally set in for Lopez, who can’t believe that she’s actually going to college. With worries about struggling in classes, what her social life will be like and whether she can keep her grades, Lopez is finally taking in the reality of leaving for college soon.
Through her struggles and accomplishments, she thanks her parents for being supportive of her throughout her life. Lopez feels appreciative she had the ability to concentrate on her academics and to be involved in school activities, while also learning practical skills in budgeting, management and leadership from her responsibilities at home.
Reflecting on her younger self, she wishes she could tell herself to put her personal goals first, “because how can you improve something else when you can’t improve yourself.”
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