The State Seal of Biliteracy is California’s highest formal recognition for students who achieve literacy in two or more languages. With more students earning the seal than ever, we are uplifting the stories of students throughout California who are earning this prestigious distinction. This story shines a light on Ivan, a graduate of McLane High School in Fresno, California who speaks English, Spanish, and Mixtec, an Indigenous language of Oaxaca, Mexico.
“Tú si puedes/You can do it”
Ivan and his family came to Fresno from Oaxaca. He described a home life rooted in culture, language, and pride in where they come from. Throughout his journey to earning the State Seal of Biliteracy, he carried his parents’ words of encouragement:
“Somos de rancho chiquito. Tú si puedes. (“We are from a small ranch. You can do it.”)
For Ivan, multilingualism is more than a skill–it’s a superpower.
“It’s motivational to know that being multilingual is a superpower that allows you to open doors for people, and help your community,” he says. “A lot of people don’t speak English, or Spanish, or Mixtec. It’s one of the coolest superpowers.”
He often accompanies family members to medical appointments, helping interpret conversations with healthcare providers. Rather than seeing translation as a responsibility, Ivan views it as an opportunity to reassure and support the people he loves.
“I can’t even explain how amazing that is,” he says.
Ivan learned about the State Seal of Biliteracy his junior year from a Spanish teacher, and immediately knew he wanted to earn it. His Spanish teachers during his junior and senior years provided encouragement and guidance for meeting seal requirements.
Ivan also enrolled in dual enrollment courses, taking history and government classes in Spanish. Learning academic content in Spanish, allowed him to continue developing his language skills across subjects, while building on the linguistic and cultural assets he already possessed.
Using His Superpower to Serve
Although Ivan had always valued speaking three languages, receiving the State Seal of Biliteracy gave him something tangible to celebrate with his family.
“It was surreal. We made it. We’ve come a long way,” says Ivan.
His commitment to multilingualism extends well beyond his own achievement. Ivan uses his language skills to support his community in many ways–from helping families overcome language barriers to participating in youth-led civic organizing. As a peer mentor, he also supported newcomers in their English language development as they adapted to school in the United States.
Looking ahead, Ivan hopes to continue serving his community through education. One day, he hopes to return to the classroom as a multilingual teacher.
For students working toward the State Seal of Biliteracy, Ivan offers simple but powerful advice:
“Don’t get discouraged.Those sentences turn into conversations. Those conversations turn into language.”
We thank the Youth Leadership Institute, especially Senior Program Manager Johnsen Del Rosario, for connecting us with Ivan and making it possible to share his story. Learn more about the Youth Leadership Institute and its work to create more equitable communities where young people can thrive.
Read more student stories below: