Jazling Ortega

Jazling’s story is one of incredible courage born from hardship. When she was only 11 years old, her mother passed away from cancer leaving her father to care for Jazling and her older sister while working a demanding job in construction. The family faced even greater challenges when they were forced to relocate following the demolition of the neighborhood where they used to reside. At the same time, Jazling’s health was being affected, making it difficult for her to attend school consistently. Despite these hardships, Jazling has refused to let her circumstances define her. Instead, she has become both a leader at school and a hero at home. At home, she cooks, cleans and supports her family daily. At school she maintains excellent grades and became a Mental Health Advocate, actively supporting students who are grieving the loss of loved ones by helping lead grief support conversations and teaching them how to cope with sadness in healthy ways. She even took the initiative to speak with a friend’s parents to ensure her friend received professional help, showing maturity and compassion far beyond her years. Although her life has been filled with challenges, Jazling is the definition of resilience, compassion, and leadership.