Brissa Ruiz

Hello Kaiser Summer Youth Employment Program,

My name is Brissa Ruiz, currently a junior at John F. Kennedy High School, and I am really interested in participating in your program this summer. My goal is to gain admission into a prestigious University as a Pre-Med student, and I know your program can help me with that. I am a proud Mexican American student who has always maintained a 4.0 GPA or higher. Academics has always been important to me.

Beyond academics my life has revolved around music, dance, and sports. As a child I grew up playing piano, and violin. Now, I am in advanced Orchestra. I also learned different styles of dance like hip-hop, ballet, jazz, and tap, and played every sport.

What is most interesting about me is that school friends do not know that I played soccer, basketball, softball, and volleyball, and I am extremely competitive, yet they think I am a nerd until they face me on the court or field. Currently, I am in varsity water polo, and the swim team which I have been since my first year in high school. I also swim in a private club and made it into CIF for my high school. To me swimming is not just a sport I love to do. It is a lifeline where I can escape temporarily from my daily frustrations, and stresses, blowing off steam while giving me a chance to calm down and clear my mind.

• Waterpolo Player (2 years)
• Swimmer (11 years)
• Musician (played the piano since I was 5 years old; played the violin for 6 years; played the clarinet for 1 year)
• Cal Hosa Member (2 years)
• SAT Studying Club (After school on Friday, we meet with each other and study for the SAT, and help each other)
• Bruins Partners Club (every Wednesday, UCLA students come after school and talk to us high schoolers about college and what we should be focusing on)
• UCLA AP Readiness STEM Program (I just started this year, but I was lucky enough to get into this program where different professors and teachers from high school and college help us prepare for our AP tests every month)

Class of 2026, Current Junior

John F. Kennedy High School

11254 Gothic Ave, Granada Hills, CA 91344

Straight A student (4.0+)

• Principals Award (3 years)
• Citizenship Award (3 years)
• Valley Mission League Champ for Swimming in the 200 Yard IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free Relay and 200 IM Relay
• CIF swimmer (3 years)
• Perfect Attendance (3 years)
• Superior in Orchestra freshman year at a festival

Tutor at Danube Elementary

• I went every Thursday for two years to the elementary school and tutored second graders in class, and I plan to keep going this year
• I helped the teacher with paperwork and different tasks
• I was also able to teach the kids on a field trip to the LA Zoo

Operation Smile Club

• I made gift bags and gift cards for kids with cleft lips, and the elderly

Operation Yarn Club

• I crochet beanies for kids and adults with cancer
• I also crochet little animals for the kids as well