Veronica S. Matagaono of Signal Hill, California, grew up in an unstable, violent home environment. Her parents were poor and often couldn't afford to feed their family of five children. Many times, Veronica hid her feelings and struggled for her place in the world.

She found it in school.

"It was actually the main light on my dark path," recalls the 17-year-old senior at Jordan High School in Long Beach, California. "I was so dedicated to school that I joined everything, from volleyball to selling Girl Scout cookies."

For Veronica, that dedication extended to volunteering in ways that changed not only her life, but the lives of many young people. Her primary volunteer work is with Long Beach WRAP (Winners Realizing Amazing Potential) program, for which she recruited many of her friends who were in trouble. As a result, the program grew from 200 students to more than 1,200.

As part of the WRAP program, Veronica helped create an Anti-Violence Committee. She and a group of students plan and rehearse skits dealing with violence among teenagers.

As to her future, Veronica wants to volunteer for the rest of her life, she says. Her biggest dream is some day to go to needy countries to educate the people about diseases like AIDS and malnutrition.