WHITTIER – California High School Class of 2016 graduate Alondra Saldivar has a passion for helping others. From her days leading Cal High Condors into community service projects as Interact Club president to her current role as a law graduate working for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona, Saldivar has worked tirelessly to champion human rights while inspiring others to become community volunteers.

Saldivar’s post-secondary journey has been a whirlwind of education and advocacy, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Juris Doctor degree at the University of San Francisco (USF), all while continuing to mentor young students and encourage them to pursue participation in community service clubs.

“There are so many rewards to being involved with community service clubs,” Saldivar said. “Being able to network with people and make connections and find your community, especially in the post-pandemic world, is an invaluable resource. Also, the opportunity to meet professionals who can assist in your development, that also goes a long way in your pursuit of a career.”

In 2022, as a first-year law student at USF, Saldivar returned to Cal High to lead the Interact Club Mentorship Program, which employs a network of Cal High alums to mentor current Interact Club members, reuniting her with her former advisor, Cal High Spanish teacher and Interact Club advisor Oyuki Espinoza.

Holding meetings over Zoom, the mentorship program pairs mentors with current students based on career and college interests, giving students the opportunity to ask questions of their mentor, who provides tips and advice about how to select a college and how to pursue scholarships. Recent mentorship meetings have included talks from professionals like software engineers and scientists.

The success of the mentorship program was no surprise to Espinoza, who personally recruited Saldivar to join the Interact Club after observing her outgoing nature and magnetic personality on campus, thinking she would be the perfect choice to lead the club and attract new members.

“Alondra has always been well-spoken, with a big circle of friends,” Espinoza said. “First as activities coordinator, then as president, Alondra presided over a huge transformation of the club on campus, giving it her all and taking it to the next level. Alondra helped organize our first formal banquet and it was such a success. She set the standard for years to come.”

Channeling her family history of giving back, Saldivar helped to organize food drives and clean-up days at community sites, keeping the atmosphere light and making it fun for participants.

“I wanted my friends to join, so I wanted to keep it personable,” Saldivar said. “Activities like Interact and marching band helped me organize my leadership skills and social skills. This is why I feel the mentorship program is so important, because in high school you have a lot of questions, and sometimes you need help to find the answers.”

Although majoring in political science, Saldivar found her passion at UCLA studying international migration. This led Saldivar to the USF’s School of Law, where she joined the Student Immigration Law Association (SILA), helping to lead “Know Your Rights” clinics for immigrants, and learning how to perform community service within the scope of law. Saldivar also served as a pro bono coordinator for USF’s Student Affairs Department.

Saldivar’s passion for advocacy brought her to the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project as a law graduate, assisting the nonprofit in its mission to provide free legal services, social services, and advocacy to immigrants facing detention and potential deportation.

For Saldivar, it’s a long way from the days when she took her classmates to local outings to bond and perform community service, play her trombone in the Cal High marching band, or go for long hikes with her friends. But the drive and desire to teach, assist, and mentor has never left Saldivar, who continues to participate in the Interact mentorship program.

“Mentorship is important. Students should never be afraid to ask questions,” Saldivar said. “Community service gives you an opportunity to look at things with fresh eyes and gives you more confidence. It helped give me my start, and I encourage all students to consider the benefits of giving back to their community through a service club.”

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WUHSD_SALDIVAR: California High School Class of 2016 graduate Alondra Saldivar returned to Cal High in 2022 to lead the Interact Club Mentorship Program, which employs a network of Cal High alums to mentor current Interact Club members.