Mariell Cerdena was born on December 1, 1999, in Manila, Phillipines. She was born to her parents Ysmael and Marivic, her older sisters, Ysalina and Ivy and younger sisters Mathilda and Ella.

She moved with her family from the Phillipines when she was 11 months old, and went to Campbell Elementary School from kindergarden to sixth grade. Cerdena later went to Mears Middle School, and will complete her ASD education at Dimond High School.

“Mariell is a hardworking student both in the classroom and in her extracurricular acitivites. She is a loving and caring person who will make any situation a fun one,” said Isaac Villeda.

Villeda, another Dimond senior, has known Cerdena for a very long time.

“I have known Mariell since elementary school, and we have been friends since sixth grade, so that is a little over six years now that we have been good friends,” Villeda said.

Villeda had a very positive comments to say about one of his closest friends and how Cerdena continues to be a great person.

“Mariell continues to be very selfless as an individual and that is something I have always respected her for. She has always been like even as a little kid. Mariell has also become more outgoing, which is great because everyone should know her,” Villeda said.

Senior Horojah Jawara has also been one of Cerdena’s closest high school friends, and she credits Cerdena with helping her get involved at Dimond.

“We became friends in sixth grade, but we truly became best friends junior year. Without a doubt, I wouldn’t be in Student Government if it hadn’t been [for] her motivation and inspiration. I was scared, because I was still fairly new to everyone in school, but she told me that I could do it, and she turned out being right,” Jawara said.

Jawara talked about how Cerdena has helped her get out of her shell and become the best version of herself.

“Mariell has definitely helped me step out of my comfort zone, and showed me that it’s okay to put yourself out there and not have to worry about the consequences. Along with that, our friendship has grown to the point where we call each other sisters, and she’s shown me the most love and respect I could ever ask for,” Jawara said.

Senior Jason Choi has been friends with Mariell since Mears, but they have been dating for about a year now.

“Being with Mariell [for the last year] has made me a better person, and my favorite quality she possesses is how much she cares about everyone,” Choi said.

Choi included that he went to Dimond prom for the first time in his high school career, and that he was glad he was able to go with Cerdena.

“Senior Prom was great. I usually don’t like dances but Mariell made this dance special,” Choi said.

Senior Brendon Johnson was pleased that he was able to become closer friends with Cerdena this year.

“Mariell is a ride or die friend. She really took one for the team this year in Student Government, because she pretty much had to do my job and plan assemblies. She was a shadow Commissioner of Spirit,” Johnson said.

Mariell Cerdena’s future plans are going to University of Alaska, Anchorage in the fall to study nursing, then later becoming a pediatric nurse.

Cerdena discussed what led her to pick nursing as her future major and career.

“When I was little, I loved going to the doctors just because the nurses were always nice, funny and made me comfortable. A couple of years ago, my grandma had to stay at the hospital for a couple of weeks. I remember every single nurse that cared for her was caring and helpful. I’m a caring person who loves helping people and loves kids, so I thought being a pediatric nurse would be the perfect job for me,” Cerdena said.

The future is bright for Mariell Cerdena and her best friends think the world of her too.