Good Vibes Only: Local high schooler balances it all while inspiring classmates

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)—With positive anticipation, 17-year-old Kiana Tsutsui keeps working on university applications. The senior at Young Women’s STEAM Research & Preparatory Academy is already enrolled in college-level courses while juggling numerous high school extracurricular activities.

Instead of sleeping in, Tsutsui gets ready for a long day ahead, beginning with a 7:30 a.m. class.

Tsutsui takes a college course through the National Education Opportunity Network. NEON gives high school students access to college-level academics. Tsutsui told ABC-7 that the work is demanding, but she enjoys the challenge.

“It's so amazing. It's far from easy. It's a lot of work, you know, notes, PowerPoints, videos, assignments. But it's the information that we're learning,” she said.

She always knew she wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. “It's been something I've been interested in since I was little. When I was ten, I asked my parents for a disease textbook for Christmas.”

Tsutsui said the course will prepare her for a future career in occupational therapy.

“I happened to stumble across occupational therapy, and it's something about it just felt right. I was like, this is an experience I want. This is kind of something I want to do. I want to help people in the way that I can through occupational therapy,” she explained.

Tsutsui has faced her own health struggles after being diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disease. She experiences fatigue, but it doesn’t impact her day-to-day life. She said her diagnosis has changed her perspective and only motivated her.

“I now want to help people who do struggle with these things, and I want to understand that and kind of be part of that world.”

Tsutsui hopes to continue making a difference in the lives of others, including her classmates.

"I've loved watching them flourish, and then being someone that they can say ‘Hi’ to them in the hallways or someone they can come to if they need help has always been like so empowering for me."

For now, she’ll enjoy the final months of her senior year. She’s actively involved in orchestra, debate, flag football, theater, drumline, art and she’s also class president.

While she still hasn’t officially decided where she wants to go to college, she said she is interested in the program at Texas Women’s University.