Where Are They Now? Yudith Vargas – Class of 2004
Alumni #WhereAreTheyNow Spotlight: Yudith Vargas – Class of 2004
First and foremost, thank you so much Yudith Vargas for your leadership, service, and response during this unprecedented pandemic. Yudith is the Associate Director of Nursing at Santa Rosa Community Health (SRCH) and a Registered Nurse by trade. She has the honor of leading and working with over 35 nurses and other members of the care team at SRCH. When she is not responding to natural disasters and pandemics she has the privilege of training and guiding new nurses at SRCH and local nursing schools. She absolutely loves what she does and she is proud to be at SRCH serving her community.
Yudith is a proud graduate of Elsie Allen High School, from the class of 2004. We are lucky to have her serving as a Community Member on our Foundation’s Board of Directors. When we asked her how Elsie Allen High School impacted her life she said, “Elsie Allen motivated me to strive high regardless of my barriers growing up. I had a lot of wonderful teachers who took the time to get to know me and provide a safe space where I could learn and excel. Elsie Allen, the woman, inspired me to give back to my community because that was the life she lived. My passion to give back to the community was born in my high school years, and I am proud to say that I was the recipient of the Elsie Allen Award my senior year in high school.”
Yudith has overcome extreme challenges in her life, one being growing up undocumented. She considers herself an original dreamer because DACA did not exist when she was in high school. She obtained her citizenship her second year in college and that is when she truly realized the mental and physical toll being undocumented can have on our youth. But Yudith didn’t let being undocumented stop her from pursuing dreams of becoming a nurse. She is a trailblazer and role model for her family (and our community) as she was the first from her family to graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and receive a degree. She went straight to Sonoma State University where she studied Nursing and graduated in 2010. Yudith has aspirations to continue her education by pursuing a Masters in Nursing.
Yudith wants us to share this message with our young Lobos and Lobo Nation, “It is easy to make excuses or complain about things, but if you are not planning ahead and taking action then you will never know what you are capable of. I know first hand what it’s like to be discouraged and to want to give up. Always think about why you are doing what you are doing. For me that meant proving the statistics wrong, becoming the first in my family to graduate from high school and 4-year college, and helping my community. If I can do it you can too, and you will find a way!”
Yudith, you are an absolute shining star in our community. Thank you for sharing your amazing journey, and keep doing what you do!