SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Despite facing challenges, a California student has gotten into all 13 colleges to which she applied.

Yale and Stanford were on Lucia Lopez’s acceptance list, but she is heading to Boston in the fall as part of Harvard University’s class of 2027.

The accomplishment is incredible on its own, but Lopez did it while facing challenges at home with her family’s health.

When she started high school, her father had a stroke.

Later on, the high school student said her mother had health issues of her own.

“My mom was diagnosed with cancer two weeks before my 16th birthday,” Lopez said. “Carrying that information with me during times that were supposed to be really exciting, you’re turning 16, that was the hardest part for me.”

On top of that, Lopez was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

She said she turned the negative into a positive. She is also the co-president of her school.

“Your day right now is not going to be the same as tomorrow. You are always evolving. You are always changing. You always have a choice to change your circumstances,” Lopez aid.

Lopez is also a mariachi singer. Her parents came to the United States from Mexico and she started her own magazine to tell stories of Latino-Americans.

“My parents were first gen. They were part of the Chicano movement,” Lopez said. “I want to make them proud. I made such great friends here.”

As she walked down the halls for the very last time, she said she would remember the community that supported her through tough times.

Lopez has a busy summer ahead before she leaves for Harvard. She will be helping children with Type 1 diabetes and teaching kids Spanish.