Local teen gets full-ride scholarships to 16 private universities and ivy leagues
One local student is on her way to Harvard University, but before she made her final decision, she was accepted to six of eight Ivy Leagues schools — and wait-listed for the other two.
“It was a surprise every single time I was opening one of the emails,” Camilla Ramazzini said. “It’s unbelievable. I wouldn’t even dare to dream about it. Didn’t even want to think that I could be accepted to any of them because I thought I would jinx it — I didn’t feel worthy of that.”
Sixteen schools said yes to the soon-to-be Idaho Falls High School graduate. They were all private schools, including those Ivy League institutions. She not only got in but received full-ride scholarships to each school.
Her favorite teacher couldn’t be more proud.
“She’s just made education refreshing and new again, and it’s wonderful to see students like her represent this country, our community, Idaho, and just education in general,” said Richard Hancock, a teacher at Idaho Falls High School.
Hancock wrote her a different recommendation tailored for each school.
“There are so many adjectives I could use to describe her, but off the top is hard working, no-excuse making, inquisitive, always asking questions — demanding she learn, demanding that I teach, demanding that I explain. [She is] everything that a teacher desires in a student.”
But out of Ramazzini’s choices, her heart is set on Harvard with degrees in astrophysics and music.
“I’m interested in studying the sound waves that emit from planets. And I love music,” she said excitedly.
This future Ph.D. seeker said she owes it all to her parents.
“I give everything I have to my parents because they deserve it because they’ve sacrificed for me, and it’s not fair for me to not give as much or more and I was just happy to be able to give that blessing to them. That’s what means most. It wasn’t for me — it was because I wanted them to be able to say, ‘Wow, we’ve done so much and we’ve gone through so much, but it’s all OK now,'” Ramazzini said.
She also has this message to give: “I believe one should use his or her motivations and all the adversity that he or she goes through to make even a greater determination to succeed. It shouldn’t be your trial and tribulations, they shouldn’t be marks and scars to be guilty of — to fear, to be sad about and woe about. They’re supposed to be marks that make you stronger, that make you more determined to succeed and make you more able to succeed.”
Idaho Falls High School seniors graduate June 1, and Ramazzini will be heading to Harvard in August.
