Steping Outside of Her Comfort Zone: Sandy’s Story
Sandy Domingo is a senior at Westwood High School who lives with her mother and two sisters. As the daughter of an immigrant from Guatemala, Sandy grew up watching her mother work hard while facing ongoing financial challenges. Those experiences shaped Sandy’s resilience—but for much of her life, she struggled with confidence, assertiveness, and finding direction.
As she approached the end of high school, Sandy began to realize she hadn’t yet pursued many of the goals she once hoped for. Determined to make a change, she joined our program the summer after her sophomore year. Although she was initially waitlisted, she remained committed and was accepted the following year. She entered the program with a powerful mindset: that the next few years would be the best of her life.
And she made sure of it.
Sandy stepped outside of her comfort zone in ways she never thought possible. She joined the soccer team—despite initial fears—and by her second year, she earned a spot on varsity and received the Most Improved Player Award. She took on a summer job, gaining valuable business skills and a deeper understanding of hard work. She attended more than 10 program events, consistently pushing herself to build social confidence and meaningful friendships, even when it felt uncomfortable.
Academically and professionally, Sandy pursued her passion for healthcare by enrolling in the EVIT Nursing Program, where she earned a certification and prepared for her future career.
While these accomplishments are impressive, what stands out most is Sandy’s internal growth. Over time, she has developed into a more confident, accountable, and joyful individual. Through more than 50 coaching calls, she has committed to the kind of reflection and goal-setting that many students avoid—demonstrating maturity, discipline, and a true desire to grow.
Today, Sandy’s hard work has paid off in a life-changing way. She will graduate from Westwood High School with a full-ride scholarship—valued at over $120,000—to Arizona State University. She is also a recipient of the Valley Guardians Trade Scholarship, which will continue to support and mentor her throughout college.
Sandy is now pursuing her passion for nursing, with the goal of building a better future for herself and her family. Her journey is a testament to courage, perseverance, and what is possible when someone chooses to step beyond their comfort zone. We are incredibly proud of Sandy and all that she has accomplished—and even more excited for what lies ahead.
THE VALLEY GUARDIANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The Valley Guardian program is a multiyear coaching program for underserved students in the community. It was created by successful business people in the valley. They got together and formed a non-profit to find ways to fund developmental programs for kids in underserved communities. This program was aimed toward the underserved kids in the valley who have good hearts and have a desire to be successful and be mentored. The kids who are a part of this program have access to all different kinds of services like professional coaches, coaching calls, getaways, leadership education and training workshops, access to professionals in the valley, college and career readiness and more. The Valley Guardian program started with a single school of 6 students, and overtime has grown to 13 schools, 7 districts, and 49 active students. Overall there have been 120 students who have benefited from this program.
The Valley Guardians program offers over thirty online and in person workshops per year. We do many different types of workshops per year including things like arcades, parks, hikes, parties, and online leadership training. Many of the kids who come are not very social and are looking for a place to feel comfortable and be able to meet new people while being themselves. When they come to programs they have a great time. The way we set them up makes kids feel comfortable, whether we ask them what they are interested in doing or set them up to meet new people through social activities at the beginning of each event. The students find they feel connected and accepted through the program.