The FACES Youth Advisory Council is comprised of FACES students, both current and alumni, who represent each of the programs within our national coalition. The purpose of the Council is to create a platform for young people to express their perspectives and experiences and advocate on behalf of youth. Youth voice is an integral aspect of FACES for the Future Coalition’s work – and hearing from young people helps us to provide relevant, innovative programming that matters to our students.
Introducing our 2025-2026 Youth Advisory Council
Adriana Rodriguez
Hello!
My name is Adriana Rodriguez, and I am currently a junior at John O’Connell High School. I was born and raised in San Francisco.
I enjoy baking, reading and watching movies/TV shows. I believe that my best qualities are my kindness, devotion and honesty as they all help me achieve the goals that I set for myself. My plan for after high school is to attend a college and major in biology.
FACES has been a dear part of my life. It has helped me learn so much of what decisions and rules people who work in healthcare face. The FACES program allows me to explore what a career in healthcare would like and assures me of my decision to continue pursuing a healthcare career. I am very excited to be a part of FACES Youth Advisory Council.
My aspirations extend to the University of Southern California, where I aim to double major in Business Administration (Marketing) and Psychology, with a minor in consumer behavior or neuroscience. Outside of academics, I find fulfillment in playing volleyball, working out, or running at my school’s track field.
I am grateful for my participation in the FACES program, particularly the internship rotations at Rady’s Children Hospital in the Hematology/Oncology department, Neuroscience, and Alexa’s Playc. These experiences have fortified my passion and commitment to making meaningful contributions to the health and well-being of communities.
Jennifer Borbon
Hello!
My name is Jennifer Borbon, and I am currently a junior at Crawford High School. I have been in the FACES program since my sophomore year. I was born and raised in San Diego. I am so extremely grateful I applied to the FACEs program when I did. It exposed me to many different healthcare pathways I didnt know existed.
Throughout the past three years of high school, I have been passionate about attending college and later pursuing a career in the medical field. Every day, I work hard on my schoolwork and strive to achieve the best grades possible, so that one day I can become a nurse. I hope to make my parents proud and not throw away the opportunities I was given.
Outside of school, I like to crochet, color, and play games. I hope to make an impact, and very excited to be a part of the Youth Advisory Council.
Joshua Mbah
My name is Joshua Mbah, and I am currently a senior at Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School. I plan to major in biochemistry at UCLA to eventually become a medical doctor in the future. I enjoy reading and exercising and, I am passionate about helping others hence my interest in the medical field.
I am the eldest child in my family and a first generation college student so there are a lot of expectations I am trying to live up to. I have an amazing support system full of people who always push me to be the best possible version of myself. Most especially, my mother whose hardworking persona fuels me to make her proud and make all herefforts worth it.
The FACES For The Future coalition has given me the chance to achieve my goals and I am deeply appreciative of all the opportunities that have been given to me. I have learned a lot about healthcare and necessary skills that will allow me to become a successful person in my future endeavors. I hope to make a lasting impact on the world and give back to my community.
Santiago de la Cruz
Santiago de la Cruz is a hardworking and passionate young man who dedicates himself to challenges he knows will benefit him. He loves making time for his community and peers, loves to spend time with his friends and family, and read lots of books every day since he could remember. He is a junior in High School and is academically challenged and enjoys learning new skills that are essential for his success, especially now that he is thinking of going to college after high school.
He is hoping to become a veterinarian and to help all those animals in need for homes and families to cherish them. He believes that all types of animals should be treated the same way as people are treated and respected. He goes to Hoover High School and is academically involved around the campus, he takes advantage of special opportunities shared at his local high school. He lives in small Mexican household with his whole family, who he loves very much. He wants FACES for the future program change for the better and for those in the upcoming generation of future medical leaders, who are interested in the medical and veterinary field.
Sarah Garcons
My name is Sarah Garcons, and I am a student at Hoover High School ( class of 26) and a proud member of the FACES program. I am a first-generation and low-income student who is passionate about helping others. From a very young age, I have been self-motivated to pursue higher education so I can build a stable future for myself and my family.
Growing up, I often lacked the resources I needed to reach my goals, which pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and actively seek opportunities and support. My motivation comes from within, and I wanna keep challenging myself to grow and improve.
My long-term goal is to become a doctor. I always wanted to pursue a medical career. I hope one day I can serve the communities and support families like my own. Through the Faces program, I got a better understanding of what kind of career pathway I wanna take.
Ximena Guzman
Hello!
My name is Ximena Guzman, and I am currently a junior at San Leandro High School. I have always been passionate about helping others, which has inspired my goal of attending medical school and becoming a travel nurse, allowing me to care for people from different communities and backgrounds.
In addition to my academic interests, I am a member of the track team, where I have learned the value of discipline, resilience, and perseverance. Balancing athletics with school has pushed me to grow both mentally and physically, teaching me how to remain committed even when faced with challenges. I am also part of Health Link, a healthcare focused internship that introduces students to medical careers through hands-on experiences, mentorship, and real-world exposure. Through this program, I have gained a deeper understanding of the healthcare field and strengthened my desire to pursue a career centered on service and compassion.
I am incredibly grateful and excited to begin my journey with the FACES for the Future Coalition and the FACES Youth Advisory Council. This opportunity has inspired me to turn my passion for helping others into action, pushing me to grow as a leader while making a meaningful impact through this incredible program.
Brandon Koy
Hi, my name is Brandon Koy, a freshman at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Biochemistry to pursue a career in clinical science laboratory work. I am proud to be a Pro Kids Scholar with Pro Kids First Tee San Diego, as well as a recipient of the Nixon Vision Foundation Scholarship and the Crawford and Montgomery Scholarship through the San Diego Foundation. Other careers I am considering are in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and or sports medicine. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing video games with friends and gardening with specifics being native California plants. Recent games I’ve played include Minecraft, Peak, Mimesis, REPO, and more. Shout out to Michael Ho.
I am excited to be working with FACES again, as the program helped guide me to find my current career goals, as my clinical rotation with Director Maryaan Lustestica inspired me to go into clinical lab work. As well as finding a community that shares similar goals that helped me prosper and guide me to be the person I am today.
Crystal Nguyen
Hello everyone! My name is Crystal Nguyen and I am a current sophomore at University of California, Berkeley. I am currently majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Global public health with goals in pursuing medical school and eventually becoming a Neurosurgeon!
During my time as a high school intern in FACES the program taught me so much about public health but, what stood out to me the most was the topic of mental health. In many communities, especially Asian communities, talking about your mental health is viewed as a weakness or is stigmatized which affects us who struggle with talking or expressing our mental health . I came back as an alumni to raise awareness of this unfortunate situation that the topic of mental health often faces which has a negative impact on people who were raised or taught the stigmas.
I am grateful to have this opportunity to not only be a FACES Future Youth Advisory Council but to work with brilliant students and alumni that also have the same amount of passion and grit that make young voices heard.
Maleyka Andar
Hello, My name is Maleyka Andar. I am a 2020 Crawford High School & FACES alumni, and Class of 2024 UC San Diego alumni. I was a biology major, going into the pre- med track. After graduation, I found a job as a float Patient Care Assistant at Rady Children’s Hospital, making it a full circle moment as I did clinical rotations in high school at Rady’s. As of now, I am taking some pre requisites to go into nursing, and want to work in Dermatology. I’m excited to be a part of the FACES council!
Melody Horoufi
My name is Melody and I’m a Freshman at San José State University. I’m majoring in Political Science and looking to become a lawyer in the future.
Starting my sophomore year of high school, I became passionate about taking part in nonprofit organizations and volunteering to make a difference in my community. Honestly, at first my goal was to gain volunteer hours to fulfill my high school graduation requirement, but slowly I became passionate about volunteering and giving back to my community. I’ve held many positions at various non profit organizations and eventually held executive positions ranging from graphic designer, researcher, editor, outreach member, human resources. Some of my hobbies are graphic design, coloring, drawing and playing the piano.
What interested me to take part in the medical field was when I joined FACES 2025 Summer Medical Program, and became fascinated with the many branches of the medical field. Even though many people don’t see the connection between medicine and law, my passion and fascination in both fields has instilled an interest in pursuing a law education with emphasis in medicine. As a result, I have decided to pursue a law degree, specializing in medical malpractice.
Vannie Nguyen
Hi everyone!
My name is Vannie Nguyen, and I was part of the FACES Class of 2020 at Hoover High School in San Diego, California. I earned my B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Biology, Psychology, and Public Health, and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Health Data Science at Dartmouth College. My areas of interests are reproductive justice, immigrant health, health equity, and infectious diseases. My experience with FACES during high school played a significant role in shaping both my academic journey and my commitment to community-centered work.
Over the past six years, I have developed a strong foundation in public health across diverse settings, including workforce development, student affairs, and health services research. My work focused on supporting underserved, immigrant, and low-income communities, particularly in San Diego and the City Heights neighborhood. It has been a privilege to help connect our communities to resources that promote equity, resilience, and well-being within systems that are often not designed with us in mind.
Serving on the Youth Advisory Council will be a meaningful opportunity to collaborate with peers who share a passion for advocacy and equity, and to contribute to initiatives that center and elevate youth voices on issues that directly impact our health, opportunities, and futures. I’m excited to further connect with everyone!