Like many students from Cape Verde, Pires’s family sent her to America during her school-age years to find better opportunities. Even though there was a lack of resources, she said she learned how to be resilient and appreciative of what they had in Cape Verde.
It was this upbringing that provided the foundation of who she is today. Upon arrival in the United States, Pires found it very difficult to adjust to a new culture, being away from family and trying to learn English.
While this made learning challenging, Pires faced a much larger life challenge with the sudden passing of her father. She said he was the person who motivated her to pursue goals.
In facing difficulties, Pires gained self-confidence, learned to cope with varying emotions and became the best student she could be at the Community Academy of Science and Health (CASH). She served as a school office intern, became a member of the National Honor Society, and earned the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy for Portuguese Fluency.
Pires is a recipient of the POSSE Scholarship, the Dr. Deborah Cannon P. Wolfe Biennial Scholarship, and was recently named 2026 CASH Valedictorian. She will attend Bucknell University in the fall as part of the POSSE program and intends to study accounting.
“As I continue my education, my hope is that I continue to grow as a person and that I can give back to the communities that have given me so much,” said Pires.
