- Sand Castle Days Continued Despite Unexpected Weather
- Ready for District
- Discussion of Garbage Dumpster Rates, Agreements Between State & City on Highway Regulations, and More
- 31st Annual Shrimp Cook-Off is Right Around the Corner
- LFHS Cross Country
- Local Company is Helping People With a Mission in Mind
- Valley Native Bringing Advanced Oncology Services To UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center
- Los Fresnos Annual Cook-Off Is Right Around The Corner
- Los Fresnos Falcons Hold Meet and Greet for the Community
- Los Fresnos Locals Open Up a New Business in Town
Top 10 Spotlight: Lucero Dorantes Likes Logic, Mathematics
- Updated: June 10, 2016
by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD
Lucero Dorantes likes to be logical, analytical and loves mathematics. That’s who she is.
The youngest child of parents Leo and Lucero Dorantes, she is ranked among the top five students in the Los Fresnos High School Class of 2016.
“I make my decisions based off of logic,” she said. “I do not get emotions involved, I look at the facts, and see which way to go based on facts. It’s worked for me so far.”
Participation in UIL mathematics while Resaca Middle School changed her passion “from more of a writing person” to someone who had a passion for mathematics. Lucero was involved in UIL Mathematics, calculator applications, number sense and science.
“When I started UIL in middle school, I started liking mathematics. I kind of discovered it on my own through curiosity.”
She is one of a small minority of people in the world who has memorized the first 25 decimal points of pi (π). Most people can name two decimal points of pi (3.14).
“My parents did have somewhat of an influence in my early years in elementary school, but it wasn’t really so much doing homework with my parents,” Lucero said. “I did it on my own. I like to learn. I like to finish my work, and turn it in on time, and have everything done in a neat, orderly way. I just liked it, it was fun.”
Her study habits are not typical of students who have excelled academically.
“I did procrastinate sometimes,” Lucero said. “I wouldn’t say my study habits are what everyone would say. I usually just write a summary of what I have to read, or look at notes online, and base everything off of that.”
She was an active participant at LFHS in UIL Mathematics, UIL Science, and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).
Her academic success has landed her scholarships and grants to attend prestigious Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. She will be leaving in mid-June to attend an invitation-only pre-summer freshman program at Cornell.
“I received a $3,000 scholarship all-expenses paid for the summer program. It will allow me to warm up to the campus, and be able to take some classes early.”
She plans to major in Mathematics, and is leaving her options open about a career after college.
“I am not sure about my career yet,” Lucero said. “I’m not going to be an accountant or teacher. There are a lot of options available for me. I just want to study the subject and see what I can get out of that.”
An undergraduate degree from Cornell could land her jobs in numerous fields around the world.
Her advice to younger students: “It’s not that hard. Yes, it does require a lot of work, and I’ve had to stay up late. But it just takes a few hours out of your day to finish the work … just three hours a day. If you genuinely put the effort in it, you’ll get a good grade. The grade comes from the effort.”