Whittier teen caring for sick mother graduates high school – NBC Los Angeles

A Whittier teen who balances schoolwork while caring for his sick mother graduated from high school this weekend. He now looks forward to pursuing studies that will help people affected by the same illness as his mother.

Preston Guinto graduated magna cum laude from St. Francis High School in La Cañada and did so while caring for his mother, volunteering in his community and helping children with special needs.

“There are no words to describe how proud I am of him and all the obstacles he has overcome throughout this process,” said the boy's mother, Wendy Carrera.

Carrera said that when her son was accepted to college preparatory school, she and her husband initially had logistical issues.

“My husband and I were like, 'How are we going to do this?' We live in Whittier and the school is in La Cañada,” she said.

With the support of other family members, they managed to ensure that Guinto thrived.

“What I saw from Preston from the beginning was his seriousness,” said Dan Pelletier, a counselor at St. Francis.

Guinto, who said he immediately knew he belonged at the school, beamed as he talked about his academic experience.

“What made St. Francis special was everything I learned,” he said. “It helped build character and become a better human.”

These skills stood her in good stead when her mother was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition.

“I think for Preston it was a little dose of the delicacy of life and not taking it for granted, it fueled his fire,” Carrera said. “He told me, ‘I’m going to give back.’”

With that, Guinto joined other high school students on a volunteer team that worked to build toy motorized vehicles for children born with mobility issues.

“It’s a good way for us to learn more about the mechanics of these cars, while also giving back to the community,” the teen said.

This type of hands-on experience inspired him to choose his STEM degree.

“My mission in life is to work for a Formula 1 team,” Guinto said. “I am an automotive enthusiast and that brings me a passion for mechanical engineering, which is my major at Loyola Marymount University in the fall.”