Cindie Riera, a 17-year-old Miami native, just graduated first in her class from Champagnat Catholic School. But instead of taking it easy and spending her days with her family, her boyfriend and her beloved “doggie,” Riera is going to school and working.

“If I have time, I’ll go to the beach,” says the young woman who recently graduated from high school with 41 college credits.

FIU is so proud to welcome this ambitious young woman to the Golden Panther family that we’re featuring her in an ad campaign to run in The Miami Herald. Recently, we met with Riera and asked her a few questions about herself and her future plans. Here is an excerpt of the interview:

What it took to be the best in my class:
When I was in ninth grade, the teachers had us write an essay identifying one thing we wanted to do our senior year. I wrote that I wanted to be valedictorian. At that time, I was only an average student, but I made that my goal and never lost sight of it. I wound up graduating from high school with all A’s.

On starting college at FIU:
The first time I was on campus, I looked around and thought, “Oh my gosh, this is really my school.” It took me a moment. I breathed in and out and said to myself, “Wow, this is beautiful, it’s amazing. What an opportunity.” I feel like I’ve joined a family that accepts me for who I really am.

Where I see myself in five years:
I will probably be in medical school, hopefully in the second or third class of the FIU College of Medicine.

My dream:
Professionally, my goal is to open a facility where anyone can be treated in reconstructive plastic surgery. Personally, I’d like to get to know everyone and everything. I want to travel the world.

Here is a video of the interview:

To view the ad, which ran in the June 25th issue of The Miami Herald, please click here to download a PDF file.

You may download Adobe Acrobat Reader from here if needed to view the file.