Community of Caring Adults: How Jade Chavez Finds Her Way Back from the Brink

We’re still in awe of the energy, generosity, and inspiration that filled the room at our 25th annual Oceans of Opportunity Awards and Scholarship Celebration, celebrating 25 remarkable years.

One moment that stays with us all is our Carol Rowen 180 Degree Award honoree Jade Chavez’s deeply personal story. She shared how isolating the pandemic was—feeling completely alone, disconnected from friends and school, struggling with uncertainty and loneliness that took her to a very dark place. 

Through EXP, Jade reconnected—with mentors, peers, and most importantly, herself. She found confidence, new opportunities, and a community that believed in her potential even when she couldn’t. Now a thriving student pursuing a career in healthcare, Jade’s story is living proof of the impact of being seen and supported.

 The room rose in a standing ovation—a powerful reminder why this work is so vital. Jade is why EXP exists.

Read her full story below.

Good evening, everyone, and thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight!

I’m incredibly honored to be among this group of inspiring students and supportive community members. 

I want to thank the EXP Scholarship Committee for selecting me for the 2025 Carol Rowen 180 Degree Award, and a special thank you to Katrina Espinoza,  Barstow High School Librarian Media Technician, for nominating me and being a constant source of support.

As Ms. Patty Negrette, EXP Senior Program Manager, just shared, this award recognizes students who’ve overcome challenges with the help of EXP’s programs. My journey hasn’t been easy.

Many people in this room can remember the struggles during the pandemic. For some, it was the loss of work or even sickness. For me, it was the struggle of being alone. 

The pandemic hit when I was 13. Suddenly, my life got turned upside down. No school. No sports. I didn’t know how to handle the newfound loneliness. I started sleeping more, eating less, and becoming more irritable and less energetic. I felt like a shell of a person that I no longer knew. 

My parents were going through their own hardships. I didn’t really know what was going on, but I knew enough to try to hold it together for my two younger sisters. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I felt as if one wrong move and everything I had been trying to hold together would fall apart. 

My mom was the first to recognize what was happening. She said it was depression. And, as much as I hate to admit it, she was right. 

This is probably the only time I will say my mom was right. 

After the pandemic, the sense of hopelessness only got worse. I visited the library regularly, not as a place to study, but a place I could cry in solitude. Everything just became too much. 

By 14, with the help of my family, I was in therapy and taking medication, but I eventually stopped because I felt embarrassed. That decision only made things harder. 

Things got so heavy that I considered ending my life. 

But I reached out for help, made the call to the suicide hotline. I left 10th grade and entered a psychiatric hospital where I started the real journey to healing.

Coming back to school was scary. I knew people talked, and I wasn’t ready to share. But something changed when I returned to the school library—not to cry this time—but to join EXP’s Industry Coaching Program. 

At first, I came for the free food–thank you, Ms. Negrette! But I stayed because I found something more: a community.

In the first few sessions, I didn’t really pay that much attention–sorry, Ms. Negrette! I wanted to just talk to my friends. Then came the vision board project.

At that time, I didn’t have any “vision.” I couldn’t see past what I would be doing in the next few hours or maybe this weekend. Other people have pictures of big houses, fancy cars, designer clothing, and travel destinations. Mine had just one word on it.

Happy. 

That was all I could think of at the time. I just want to be happy. 

This was also the point when I started paying attention to the coaching. In these sessions, I connected with caring adults who helped me see beyond my own little world. These volunteers genuinely wanted to help me set goals and see me succeed. Their support helped me get out of my own head and start imagining a future. 

Not only did I complete that industry coaching session, but I also came back during my senior year. This time, I brought more people to join the program.

Now, I have more than just the word “happy” on my vision board. I have a plan. 

This fall, I’ll be attending Utah Tech University to major in Population Health.  My goal is to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I want to help children the way the nurses at Loma Linda helped me—through kindness, patience, and compassion.

Thank you to everyone here who supports EXP. You’ve created a space where students like me can heal, grow, and feel seen. Thanks also to those who have volunteered to speak to us, to coach us, to share your story with us. A few hours of your time can really make a difference. 

To Katrina, thank you for giving me a safe space throughout my four years of high school. To Ms. Negrette, thank you for making sure I showed up for the EXP Industry Coaching Program during those first few sessions and for being there for me the whole time. 

To my parents, who have shown unconditional support throughout my challenging time, and let me know they are always there to help me.

And finally, I have to say thank you to myself. 

Because at the end of the day, I am here because I chose to keep going, even when it was hard.  Every day, I wake up, go to school, go to work, and give everything 110%. Even on the days that I’d rather curl into a ball and hide in my room. My perseverance and determination for success are the reasons I continue pushing forward with my life.

My dad once told me, “You’re stronger than you think because you’ve survived even the days you thought you couldn’t.” 

So, for everyone here tonight, remember you are strong enough to continue forward and deserve to live your life to the fullest. It means the world to be standing here. 

Thank you all.