Esmeralda Mancilla is 18 years old and attends Austin Community College; she was born and raised in Austin. She is part of the Ascender program at ACC and Catch the Next and is passionate about helping others. She hopes to improve her leadership and communication skills in the CTN program. When not studying or working, she enjoys listening to music, horseback riding, and spending quality time with family or friends. She loves to read books, and her favorite author is Jane Austen. She also has a passion for science and plans to transfer to a 4-year university after completing her associates at ACC.