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Class Of '17: She Dreams Of College – And Passing Geometry Class

Lara Solt
Alex Gutierrez is wrapping up her junior year at the International Leadership of Texas Garland High School.

For the past month, you’ve been hearing from North Texas high school juniors. Their stories are part of KERA's American Graduate series, “What’s Next for the Class of ’17?” Alex Gutierrez is a student at the International Leadership of Texas high school, a charter school in Garland. Alex has been struggling with math and as junior year ends, a big test looms.

Alex Gutierrez has dreams. She’d like to go to college and study criminal justice. She wants to become an FBI agent, or a police detective.

First though, Alex has to get through junior year. And pass geometry.

She failed geometry last fall. And now, she’s scared about the final exam.

For Alex, who’s 16, junior year has been a big adjustment.

“I feel like it has been rough,” she said. “It just feels like there’s more work than there has been freshmen and sophomore year.”

Learn more about Alex here. And explore the rest of the Class of ’17 series here.

Stella M. Chávez is an investigative reporter for The Texas Newsroom, a collaboration between NPR and member stations around the state. She's based at KERA in Dallas and is currently reporting on how state government is working with federal agencies on immigration enforcement and border security.