Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

For Hannah Araiza Rojas, senior year at Spring Woods High School (SWHS) didn’t mark a finish line—it revealed how far she’d come.

 

“I’ve learned how to be kinder to myself,” Hannah says, reflecting on the growth she’s experienced over the past four years. “At first, I put so much pressure on myself in unhealthy ways. But I realized real growth comes from working with yourself, not against yourself.”

That mindset didn’t come easily. Like many high school students, Hannah faced the challenge of balancing academics, extracurriculars and expectations. But for her, the defining moments weren’t only in the classroom. They came in quiet talks with her parents and coaches about handling anxiety. In pushing through grueling cross country workouts. In daring to run for homecoming queen. And in finding her leadership voice as CEO of the robotics team.

“I was constantly pushed beyond my comfort zone,” she says. “But those were the experiences that helped shape who I am today.”

One of Hannah’s hardest setbacks came when a series of running injuries dashed her hopes of advancing to district and state cross country titles.

“It felt like a huge loss. I knew I had the potential, and it was something I worked so hard for,” she says. “But I stayed involved with my team, leaned on my support system and eventually realized success doesn’t have to look exactly how you pictured it.”

That turning point shifted how she sees contribution and fulfillment. “Things don’t always go in a perfect, linear way. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t another way forward.”

Among those who stood beside her was Ms. Sarah Vanderpool, Hannah’s AP Pre-Calculus and Calculus BC teacher, and assistant cross country coach.

“She’s been one of my biggest supporters in every part of my life,” Hannah says. “Whether it was helping me believe in myself academically or showing up at 5 a.m. meets, she always made me feel seen and supported. Even our early morning chats made a big difference.”

Coach Johnny Guajardo also played a pivotal role. “He went out of his way to support me when I was unsure about running in college — even reaching out to schools on my behalf,” she recalls. “His training helped me win a district title, but it was his encouragement that truly made me feel valued as both an athlete and a person.”

Hannah credits her teachers not just for their lessons, but for their belief in her.

“They helped me feel like I belonged in the spaces I aspired to be in,” she says. “They gave me the confidence to go after my dreams and inspired me to give back.”

Hannah’s dreams are as bold as her journey. This fall, she’ll attend Dartmouth College on a full scholarship through QuestBridge, where she plans to earn a master’s degree in electrical engineering. Her goal? To design minimally invasive medical recovery technologies and make them more accessible — especially for underserved communities.

“My parents first sparked my love for STEM,” she says. “And that grew through robotics, engineering classes and the Rice Biotech Academy. I realized I could combine medicine and technology in a way that helps people heal faster and live better.”

Beyond academics, she hopes to stay involved in creative hobbies like crochet, join a mindfulness community and travel the world — starting with studying abroad.

As CEO of her robotics team and cross country captain, Hannah learned what leadership truly means.

“Encouraging others and helping them believe in themselves became one of the most meaningful parts of my high school experience,” she says. “I’ve worked on building gratitude, appreciating the small joys in everyday life — sunrises, check-in conversations, playing cards with my dad. Those moments keep me grounded.”

From late-night study sessions to early morning runs and scholarship applications full of rejections before the yeses came, perseverance was key.

“That persistence got me here,” she says simply.

If she could give advice to incoming students, it would be this: “Get involved, but don’t feel stuck. It’s OK to shift paths. Prioritize your well-being, and don’t skip the school events — they’ll mean more than you expect.”

If she could do anything differently, she says, it would be to celebrate the little wins more.

“I spent a lot of time chasing big goals and forgot to appreciate the small daily ones. Now I know the process is just as important as the destination.”

To her family, friends and mentors: “Thank you for standing by me — not just when things were easy, but especially when they were hard. Your love and encouragement are now part of who I am.”

As she leaves SWHS, Hannah hopes to be remembered as someone who was driven, kind and always rooting for others. “I want my peers to feel seen and encouraged by me. If I can do it, so can you.”

And her word to describe these four years?

“Fruitful,” she says with a smile. “Because every experience — even the hard ones — led me toward a better version of myself.”

#SBISDProud