Student Profile:
Yehimi Cambron, 16
Cross Keys High School, rising senior

Since before she can remember, Yehimi Cambron has immersed herself in art.

“My mom says I started drawing ever since I started school,” said Yehimi, the daughter of Maria Alvarez and Candido Cambron of Brookhaven.

Art has long been an integral part of Yehimi’s life, even through the challenges she faced when she moved to Atlanta from Morelia, Mexico, in 2001.

“At the beginning, it was really hard,” she said. “There was a great language barrier. It was tough, but you learn.”

Yehimi adjusted to life in a new country while cultivating her passion for art. She has taken every visual arts class offered at Cross Keys, including the college-level Advanced Placement art class.

This past school year, Yehimi was the president of Cross Keys’ Art Club, and she hopes to continue to hold the position next year. She is a member of the school’s National Art Honor Society, which was formed last year.

Yehimi has received recognition for her artwork, and last semester some of her work was displayed at ChocoLaté Coffee on Shallowford Road. She was a finalist for the Governor’s Honors Program for art this year. While she was not selected to attend the program this summer, Yehimi said the process was “a good experience.”

In addition to her passion for drawing and painting, Yehimi recently discovered her interest in making jewelry. In particular, she enjoys making earrings, and she plans to sell her jewelry and other artwork at Atlantic Station.

Besides art, Yehimi has played on Cross Keys’ varsity soccer team since her sophomore year.

“I started out as a bench warmer, but I think I’ve improved a lot,” Yehimi said. When the school year begins, she hopes to be named team captain.

Yehimi is active in community service as a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Interact Club. She is also involved in Student Council and primarily works with the decorations committee in preparation for Cross Keys’ homecoming dances.

Outside school, Yehimi has a job at Aleskat Studio Foto Video Film, where she feeds her artistic interests by working extensively with photo editing programs such as PhotoShop.

What’s Next:

Yehimi plans to apply to a few colleges in the Atlanta area, with Agnes Scott College being her top choice. She also plans to apply to Oglethorpe University, Emory University, Georgia State University and Piedmont College, located in Athens.

Yehimi will likely major in art education and pursue a career as an art teacher.