Excellent Endeavors: East senior Gisele writes turnaround story at school

May 4, 2026

East High School senior Gisele is creating an environment of excellence in her life by walking on a promising academic pathway.
 
Gisele has changed the direction of her future with a renewed sense of confidence and self-esteem over the past two years. The chapters of her uplifting life novel have included stronger connections with family and friends, increased classroom success and a clear vision of her upcoming scientific career.
 
Gisele said teachers, administrators, school counselors and friends have formed a backbone of support for her at East. She said their encouragement is what she will remember most about her time on campus.
 
“It’s definitely the people and the connections I’ve built here,” Gisele said. “It’s how eager everyone is to help you and be by your side and support you.”

 
Leandra London and Kristin Murphy have been key partners in that transformational journey. London is East’s assistant building coordinator and Murphy is Gisele’s school counselor. Both said they have felt overflowing joy from watching her become a role model for many people.
 
“Gisele is the epitome of a turnaround story,” London said. “When I think of where Gisele was, seeing how much she has grown in the time that I’ve been her administrator genuinely just makes me want to cry.”
 
“The ninth and tenth grade Gisele is completely different from the 11th and 12th grade Gisele, and that is something that you write about in an essay or a letter of recommendation,” Murphy said. “She truly learned what she could become throughout her time in high school. It’s amazing.”

 
Gisele grew up in Lincoln and encountered several obstacles during her elementary and middle school years. She began to lose confidence in herself because of those experiences, which caused her life to slowly spiral downwards.
 
The breakthrough moment came midway through her sophomore year. Gisele said she had struggled with feelings of inadequacy before then, but she began to understand that she was capable of anything she put her mind to. That realization vaulted her life skyward in both academic and social settings.
 
“Ever since I was little, people have told me that I’m passionate, creative and hardworking, but as I grew up, I kind of began to think that people were really telling me that I wasn’t smart,” Gisele said. “It was like, ‘Oh, she’s hardworking, but she’s not smart.’ I never really believed in myself. But then that light bulb switched on and it was like, ‘Yes, I am hardworking. I am smart. I can do this.’ It really was a turning point in my life to start to believe that.”

 
Gisele began to take full advantage of school resources throughout the building. She talked more with her teachers, visited with mentors like London and Murphy and sought out every opportunity to improve her grades. She ended that semester with A and B+ results in every class.
 
Those inspiring achievements continued in her junior and senior years. She took online classes and enrolled in summer school to catch up on credits for graduation, and she began to explore all of her postsecondary options. She is planning to continue her studies at Southeast Community College before majoring in zoology and wildlife conservation at Colorado State University. Her long-term goal is to earn her doctorate degree and become a university professor and lecturer.
 
“It feels really good,” Gisele said. “I feel more confident overall both in my abilities and just in general. I feel more trusted as well, which is a big thing for me.”
 
Gisele has also poured out her energy into the community. She volunteered at a local charitable organization for a class assignment this past year, and the experience went so well that they asked her to help customers at the front desk. She is currently working three jobs during the afternoons and evenings to save extra money for her collegiate goals.
 
“This girl is such a hard worker,” London said. “She wants to do well.”

 
Gisele is also spreading hope to others at school. She has been willing to share her history with students who may currently be in a position she once was in. She said it is important for her to lend a helping hand to others in need.
 
“I always try to speak out about my experiences to other people who might be struggling with the same things, because it is really hard for people to get out by themselves,” Gisele said. “I was honestly one of the lucky ones. I understand you can’t make anyone make those decisions, because they have to do it for themselves, but you can tell them that they need to do it. You need to make them realize that what they’re doing is not a good path to be on.”
 
Gisele said the environment of excellence she has forged at East will remain with her long after she receives her diploma this spring.
 
“I think that people’s pasts are something you really shouldn’t hide and you should be open about them, because they’re always lessons to learn from,” Gisele said. “I really believe that. It’s just part of life. You go through things and you grow and you become who you’re truly meant to be.”
 
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