Senior Spotlight: Nathan Chavez Blazes a Trail to the Ivy League as First-Gen UPenn Student

This fall, Nathan Chavez will be trading the warm familiarity of Bakersfield for the historic halls of the University of Pennsylvania — one of the most prestigious Ivy League institutions in the country. With an acceptance rate of just 5.9 percent and a reputation for challenging its students, UPenn is no easy feat. Yet, for Nathan, it’s not just a college acceptance — it’s the realization of a dream and a defining milestone as the first in his family to attend a four-year university.

“It was actually my top Ivy League [school],” Nathan explained. “I didn’t really expect it, but when I did get accepted, it was one of my top choices.”

That dream became real in a moment Nathan says he’ll never forget. He was sitting in a restaurant with his friends — all of whom had applied to Ivy Leagues and other prestigious schools. As they opened their letters, some were met with waitlists, others with rejections, and then, finally, the news Nathan had been waiting for. 

“The last one I opened was UPenn, and that was the acceptance,” he said. “Even the people who were just eating there were also cheering us on. It was just really crazy.”

During his junior year at Ridgeview High School, Nathan became more involved in school clubs and associations, joining Virtual Enterprises International and collaborating with a friend’s nonprofit. These experiences helped him grow in confidence and discover more about what he wanted for his future. A passionate learner and self-motivated student, education has always been at the core of his identity.

“We knew he was smart, and I’m really proud of him,” his mom Celine Avila said. “With him, I didn’t have to push him at all; he did everything. When applying for college, he looked into all of it by himself.”

Nathan’s passion shines brightest in science, particularly biology — a love sparked in his sophomore year while taking anatomy with Ms. Ibarra. 

“At first, I wanted to do math and major in computer science or engineering. But after those classes, that’s when I said I want to do biology,” Nathan said.

For UPenn, students don’t declare a major right away. Although Nathan is considering a possible future in medicine, with a lean toward neuroscience, he still appreciates the opportunity to expand his horizons before making a final decision. 

“I was thinking about going into neuroscience. So maybe that’s something I want to do,” he said. “But who knows, maybe when I go there, I might do something completely different. Still most likely STEM.”

The decision to attend a school across the country was relatively easy for Nathan. Tired of the Bakersfield heat and eager for the chance to spread his wings and try new things, Nathan said the location was one of the reasons he chose UPenn. Additionally, the school offered the best financial aid package of any of the schools Nathan was accepted to — covering nearly all of his tuition. The only downside was how much he’d miss his family.

“I told him, ‘Don’t base your decision on us,'” Avila said. “Of course, I want him close, but I told him, you choose what you think is going to be better for you and what’s going to make you happy.”

Nathan’s parents couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments, saying that any higher education was a significant achievement, and they didn’t realize the Ivy Leagues were so competitive. 

“The more research I’m doing, the more I see what a great accomplishment it is for him to get accepted,” his mom said. “We’ve learned a lot from this experience.”

Nathan’s journey is already inspiring the next generation — including his 10-year-old sister, who now aspires to attend UCLA and eventually become a doctor. 

“She’s seen how he’s doing, and she’s already looking into that,” his mom said, smiling. “He’s setting that example, that bar, and he’s setting it high.”

For students following in his footsteps, Nathan offers this advice: go after what you want, even if you don’t think you’ll achieve it, and the most important thing is to be happy. 

“Try not to be too worried about it, and don’t forget to take time for yourself and have fun and enjoy the moment as well,” he said.