Vanessa Pelaez is something special.
She’s determined, hard working, charming and humble. She’s ready to take on the world, and she’s only 18. The recent Coral Shores High School graduate and valedictorian moved and inspired many with her graduation night speech. Now, she’s off to college with hope and a plan to make the world a better place.
Originally from Cartagena, Colombia, Pelaez immigrated with her family to Key Largo eight years ago, speaking “zero english” and having no idea what life would be like. She missed the warm culture of her old home in Colombia and Latin America. She found the Keys scary at first, because of their spaciousness, newness and tidiness; her new life was very different from what she had always known.
“In Colombia, back then, we weren’t using phones or devices yet, we were just always playing in the street. I didn’t watch TV except for a single show at 7 p.m.,” she said. “When I moved here, everyone was into video games. I didn’t know how to play video games. I felt really alone.”
At school, the star student felt overwhelmed by her new surroundings, peers and language. So much so that it made her question much of her identity.
“I didn’t understand my classes. I took ESL for a few months and had to repeat half of the fourth grade,” she said, smiling even as she remembered her struggles. “I remember just sitting in class and hearing gibberish. It was a down low blow to literally not understand anything. I felt so dumb all the time.”
While logically she knew that “moving here didn’t mean I wasn’t smart any more,” the Key Largo resident lost confidence in herself to the point where she tried to “just go on unperceived,” to blend in and “be average.” Luckily, instead of letting the language barrier keep her down, she learned to channel her frustration into her schoolwork, asking for extra credit, doubling down on her studies and remembering who she really was.
“I’m most proud of not giving up. It’s a guarantee that I will create the life I want for me,” she said.
As for what that life looks like, Pelaez already has a clear and cogent idea of what she wants to do: help others and pay it forward.
“I am an immigrant here. My cousins where I am from will have a different life. I came here by luck of the draw, not by anything special I did,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair that there’s someone way better than me that might never be able to demonstrate it because they don’t have the opportunity.”
With her keen understanding of her place in life, Pelaez will leave the Keys to attend The Burnett Honors College of the University of Central Florida, in Orlando and plans to study mechanical engineering. Her goal is to bring developmental businesses to her home country of Colombia and other developing nations like Tanzania, Bolivia and Indonesia.
“I want to do projects that help people that are suffering. I remember where I come from, and I know where I want to go. My dream is to give people more opportunities as a way to demonstrate that I am grateful for the opportunities that were given to me. This will be my way of making the balance fair.”
Full Name? Nickname? Vanessa Pelaez. My family calls me Vane.
Age: 18
Where did you grow up? In Cartagena, Colombia
When did you move to the Keys? I moved here 8 years ago. I was 10.
What was most challenging? I think it was the confidence that I lost in myself and my own capabilities cuz I was used to having a really good understanding of what I was doing — with school, home, my friends. Then, suddenly, I really didn’t know anything. I moved from the mindset of trying really hard to be the best to just getting by — to be average, to not draw attention.
Favorite subject in school? Math — when I moved and everything was gibberish, that was a universal language. It was a safe haven in school. During the 30 minutes there, I was like, “Oh my God, things make sense again.”
What’s your favorite thing to do in the Keys? Hanging out with my friends. I like going to their houses, watching movies, walking in the park and going out to eat. Literally, anything is fun with them. Shout out to Ali, Jessie and Zareska!
What’s your favorite food? A dish my grandma makes — chicken stuffed with ground meat, passion fruit and bechamel sauce. She made it for my graduation!
What’s something people don’t know about you? I’m really good at singing, and I play the piano. My favorite song to sing is “Podemos” by Violeta. It’s silly, but it’s not a song you hear on the radio. That’s actually the theme song from a childhood TV show, the show I used to watch at 7 p.m. on the T.V. in Colombia.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My grandma. I want people to know she is an inspiration to me every day of my life.
You just graduated from CSHS – how does that feel? It felt like I did something good, like I accomplished something good.
What was your graduation speech about? It was just about how taking an opportunity is sometimes hard but really rewarding. And it’s a beautiful thing to do. We are in a place that requires us to recognize we’re lucky to have this opportunity in the first place. I was encouraging me and the rest of my class to use those opportunities to make the world we live in a better place.
How would you like to be remembered by your friends at Coral Shores? Just as someone who is happy and hardworking.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Change people’s minds.
Do you have a “senior quote” for your Keys community? Thank you to all those who have supported me. I am a mosaic of all the things I’ve lived with all the people I’ve encountered in my life. Thank you for all the experiences and lessons you’ve taught me.
Finish these sentences:
Keys life is … memorable.
Being a senior during coronavirus was … an experience.
The world needs … less apathy.
I am … the product of all those that came before me.
