Savanna Mendoza, currently a junior at Ripon High, has suffered from a severe heart condition ever since she was born. Despite having to deal with the daily struggles that come with her condition, Mendoza has proved that her condition does not stop her from spreading her positivity throughout her school and having the full high school experience.

Savanna was born with half of a heart, a medical condition that caused her to have three open heart surgeries andone recovery operation after one of her lungs collapsed. None only does she live without half of her heart, but her heart is also flipped backward and is on the right side of her chest, rather than the left. She also has a mechanical valve that pumps her blood to her brain, while the rest of her blood is moved bygravity. Although she was told at a young age that she would not be able to walk due to her low blood circulation, but she was able to prove this medical theory wrong at an early age.

“My heart condition has formed me into the person I am today because I was always told that I will not be able to do all the things I want to do and that pushed me to do everything I possibly can. I am a better student and person because of it. I hid my condition for a long time because I got made fun of for it but now I simply don’t care.”

Despite being told that she will not be able to do everything that she wants to, Mendoza has proved everyone wrong with all that she contributes to the tribe. She is involved in multiple clubs at the school including link crew and pride tribe. She also plays golf, is a gymnast, and is enrolled in several AP classes.

“My heart condition pushes me to be the best I can be for the school. I’m more compassionate and more involved because of it.”

Savanna Mendoza has proved to be a worthy student who has put her commitments aside to join the tribe and contribute to the school in her own way. By involving herself in multiple events and clubs as well as sacrificing her own needs for others, she has shown that she is a member of the tribe. Someone who is willing to set aside the personal situations they have in order to make high school more memorable for others is someone worth recognizing.

“It is part of who I am and I’m proud of it. I might physically have half a heart, but emotionally and mentally I have the biggest heart around.”