If you strike up a conversation with Palo Alto College student Amariah Gonzales, you’ll be taken aback by what she has accomplished in her young life so far. Or as Palo Alto English Professor Caroline Mains said, you’ll be in awe of her focus.

Amariah is a 16-year-old teenager who has already earned 18 hours of college credit while pursuing her high school education as a home-schooled student.

When I first came across this petite young lady, her aura radiated a mixture of confidence and kindness. And she appeared to be a well-put-together individual, too, wearing a stylish pair of over-sized dark shades that laid atop her wavy black locks.

She first began taking college courses at Palo Alto at the remarkable age of 15. While some teens never think twice about their future dreams and goals, Amariah was focused and already enrolled in a Psychology course.

"When I first came here, I was nervous," Amariah said. Soon her nerves and worries melted away.

In her Freshman Comp 1301 class that she took with Mains, Gonzales received the highest grade in her class. Mains said that she "exceeded all expectations" and would re-do her assignments to achieve a perfect score.

This incredible young lady knows what she wants to accomplish in her lifetime. Amariah wants to pursue multiple college majors in Business, Education and Math, and she has a strong desire of eventually earning herself a doctorate degree. She wants to "get it done fast to start her life."

Mains used the expression "The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree" to describe how Amariah is a strong and "all-around good person," just like her mother and grandmother, who just so happen to work here at Palo Alto.

According to her mom, Linda Ibarra-Gonzales, a Biology professor here on campus, Amariah is a "strong-willed" individual, who can also be "very persistent" and who somehow, even at a young age, always finds a way to make things work.

Amariah’s grandmother, Dr. Cecilia Gonzales, who also teaches Biology at Palo Alto, said that Amariah has a "Type A personality" and that there is "no doubt she will achieve any goal she sets her mind to."

Not only is Amariah an incredible student who has a passion for school, but when she’s not hitting the books, she does what she loves just as much: playing basketball. She is an avid athlete who competes alongside her younger sister for an all-girls team called FEAST, which stands for Family Educators Alliance of South Texas.

Recently Amariah was selected for the "People-to-People Student Ambassador Program," where she will fly overseas to China. It’s clear to see the glow and excitement light up her face when her up-coming trip is mentioned.

She said, "It’s definitely an experience I will never forget."

As of right now, a date for the trip has not been determined. She will be notified 60 days prior to take off. One thing that’s certain is that she is thrilled and somewhat nervous about this 17-day adventure.

On this life-changing journey, she will mingle with fellow teens while taking in the culture and everything else China has to offer, like Kung Fu and cooking lessons. On her trip, she and her colleagues will visit a series of schools where they will teach Chinese students some English and sing songs to one another.

Amariah has hopes of attending a university in the fall. With already seven in mind, like Rice University and the University of the Incarnate Word and two that she has visited so far, it will be a challenge to choose the perfect fit.

This stellar Palo Alto College student is a focused, hard-working individual who isn’t afraid to call herself a "workaholic."

Amariah knows what she wants in life, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish her dreams.

Hao yun! (Good luck!)