For senior Sophia Diane Hernandez, a normal phone call turned into a day of bliss when she checked her college acceptance letters.

“I screamed. We were on the phone with my friend and checked it together, and I screamed because that was—and is—my dream school,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez is most excited about living near the beach.

“I’m really excited about living close to the beach and being independent for the first time. The campus is beautiful, and I’m excited to see that every day,” she said.

Teachers raved about Hernandez.

“She is super smart and energetic and will do great in college,” said Gina Brownstein, her ceramics teacher.

Hernandez plans to study human biology on a pre-med track.

“Sophia is brilliant. She’s a great student. She has a very analytical mind. She is also kind, leads by example, and helps others around her. She’s a really strong leader and writer,” added Kirk Sharma, her AP Government teacher.