When Andrea Ortiz, 19, was a freshman, her brother, a sophomore at the time, dropped out of Pecos High School.

"It was actually harder for me to see him drop out because I was so close to him," Ortiz said. "It made me want to drop out also, and it discouraged me to continue school."

Ortiz, the youngest in her family, has three other siblings who also dropped out of high school, and neither of her parents graduated. She was dealing with some problems of her own that often landed her in the principal's office. But on Saturday, Ortiz joined 34 other Pecos seniors in getting her diploma at a graduation ceremony at the Glorieta Conference Center chapel.

District Library and Media Coordinator Emily Ortiz said Andrea Ortiz gets good grades and has everything it takes to succeed.

"She's kind of been very resilient in terms of her family life (her father was incarcerated) and being able to maintain her grades, her attendance and her desire to succeed," Emily Ortiz said.

Andrea Ortiz credits her success to her aunt, Drucilla Gonzales, and her uncle, James Gonzales. She's been living with them for the past six years, and they've expected her to do well.

"I know it's a really big expectation, and I've had to live up to that expectation," she said.

Drucilla Gonzales is the only other member of the young woman's family who graduated from high school. "She's the one who has actually pushed me to do this," Andrea Ortiz said. "If I hadn't moved in with her, I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in now."

Although Andrea Ortiz said she moved out of her mother's house because she needed a stricter environment, she admitted that she sometimes she got tired of the rules.

"Sometimes when she was strict, I used to hate it," Andrea Ortiz said with a smile. "I think she taught me a really good lesson. She always told me just to stay on track and stay focused. She told me to always try and stay ahead of everything — no slacking."

Gonzales said she's proud of her niece because "she's the only one from her immediate siblings who will be graduating. It's a great accomplishment for her, and we're very proud of her."

Gonzales said she's always tried to show her niece the possibilities for her in the world.

"We've tried to open her up to the real world and let her know that she has other options other than just settling," Gonzales said. "She's become very strong-willed, and she has a good head on her shoulders. She's a good student and a good kid. ... She's a very well-rounded person for her age and the circumstances she's grown up in."

Andrea Ortiz said she is excited about her first semester at The University of New Mexico, where she plans to enter the pre-law program. She doesn't know yet what kind of lawyer she wants to be. "I've always been interested in wanting to know more and more about it," she said. "I realized that's what I wanted to study."

The young graduate already has 29 college credits under her belt from her participation in the Luna Community College program. "I feel great about that," she said. "I love being ahead like that. It's a great opportunity."

But she said she will miss seeing her close friends in Pecos. "We all know each other and are comfortable with one another," she said. "It's not big, and you do know everyone and their families. We're practically related to everyone here."

She has secured a few scholarships and some financial aid to pay for college. She plans to "live on campus and get the whole experience," she said.

"I think she's going to succeed," Emily Ortiz said. "She definitely has the determination."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.