On August 15, 2025, the Franklin High School International Baccalaureate senior class of 2026 was visited by two IB alumni, Ashley Espinoza (class of 2021) and T.J. Roberts (class of 2016).
The IB alumni were invited to speak by Elizabeth James, an IB English teacher at FHS, as a surprise for the students to hear stories of IB program graduates and all they have been up to since completing the program.
Espinoza was a Questbridge National Match Scholar and attended Yale University, graduating in the class of 2025. Some of her most memorable experiences in college include interning at the White House and learning Portuguese. She is set to start law school in 2026 and said she aims to work in law soon. Espinoza also declared she will be running for mayor of Stockton in the next campaign.
Espinoza highlighted her personal experience in high school, where she was not considered the typical “perfect student,” but never let that limit what she believed she could achieve. She also emphasized her strong belief in “coming back and giving back to the community.”
Roberts attended the University of California Berkeley for her master’s and undergraduate degrees after graduating from FHS. She is working on her PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, class of ’27. She currently works as a Ph.D student, getting paid for her research.
Robberts encouraged students not to be afraid of college because of the cost, and said he appreciated the large amounts of financial aid offered in the UC system.
Esteban Olivares, an FHS IB senior who was present during the presentation, said of his experience listening to the alumni speakers, “I felt like it was really motivating for me. Because they were people in my position and they succeeded…I was very inspired…very captivated by their success.”
Espinoza and Roberts ended their remarks by encouraging students to continue in the IB program and to apply to colleges, regardless of how they perceive themselves or the limits others have imposed on their success.
