Meet the Class of 2026: Alexis Flores

After years of battling social anxiety, burnout, and feeling unseen in traditional school settings, Alexis Flores persevered and reshaped her timeline so she would graduate with her high school diploma at 24 years old.

With the support of CBK Charter, operated by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE), Alexis not only earned her diploma but also gained the courage to pursue higher education toward her dream career.

Losing Courage

Two months into her freshman year, Alexis had to leave behind her school, childhood friends, and home. The abrupt change caused her to develop severe social anxiety that would later affect her academics.

“During that time, it felt like a battle and left me feeling paralyzed,” Alexis expressed.

After she moved to a new city, Alexis spent the next 7 years transferring through multiple educational and charter programs. Each of them having one thing in common: they all lacked the support she needed, leaving her feeling alone and insecure about her ability to keep up with school.

“I felt overwhelmed and kind of afraid to ask for help,” she explained. “I felt burnt out. School just became something that wasn't a priority anymore.”

Turning her focus away from school, Alexis often took on at-home responsibilities. She helped raise her younger siblings, taking them to and from school, and managing household duties while her parents worked. As those duties grew, so did her feeling that there was little support for her own needs.

“All of my time and energy went to taking care of those things,” she explained. “I felt like I was there for everyone else and always willing to help figure things out. But when it came to me, I felt like the forgotten one.”

Over time, Alexis stopped believing she could achieve anything.

“I've always known that I wanted to do more with my life, but I felt like I wasn't capable.” This feeling changed the moment she enrolled in CBK Charter.

Building Courage

“At first I was a little nervous because I thought, ‘What if I end up falling behind again?’” Alexis recalled. “But immediately, it felt so different. The environment was something that I hadn't felt before.”

At CBK, Alexis found more than academic support. She found encouragement, mentorship, and people who genuinely cared about her success beyond graduation, like Dr. Thomas Staples.

“My teacher, Dr. T, helped me believe in myself,” Alexis said cheerfully.

Having someone like Dr. Thomas Staples, a teacher at Rubidoux Youth Opportunity Center CBK site, consistently checking in, encouraging, and guiding her through school made all the difference in her life.

“I’ve watched Alexis grow from being timid and uncertain to bold and courageous,” Dr. Thomas Staples said proudly. “Alexis is a deep thinker, a wonderful writer, and an amazing student. What she needed, was someone to see and reassure her.”

Through CBK, Alexis began dual enrollment classes at Riverside City College (RCC) and participated in a youth internship program with the Boys and Girls Club of Riverside.

“If it wasn't for Dr. T, I wouldn't have as much confidence to even take the internship or the classes at RCC,” Alexis shared. “I'm thankful for her because she was the inspiration that I needed.”

This experience helped her rediscover a passion she had since childhood.

“When I was younger, I would love to play being a teacher,” Alexis confessed. “As I got older, I didn’t know if my time passed or if becoming a teacher was still a possibility.”

But after working with students during her internship, Alexis knew that teaching was meant for her.

“It was a moment of ‘Yeah, this is my path’,” she admitted. “This is what I want to do.”

Carrying Her Courage Forward

In June, Alexis will give the graduation speech to the CBK Class of 2026. She plans to continue pursuing a degree in child development at Whittier College to become a teacher.

Beyond academics, CBK helped her grow personally by easing the anxiety she had carried for years.

As she reflected on her journey, Alexis said courage now means something very different to her than it once did.

“For me, courage is being able to overcome whatever holds you back,” she explained. “Sure, it's not a traditional timeline, but that doesn't mean my story has to end here. It just means that I can continue my story and rewrite it to what I want it to look like.”

Alexis no longer sees herself as someone who fell behind, but as someone who created a path forward.

“Being able to finally get my diploma, it's like me proving to myself that I was capable this whole time,” Alexis said joyfully. “I just needed support, guidance, and courage.”