Cezanne Manor hails from Squaw Valley and is on her way to becoming a successful doctor.

At 15 years old, Manor began taking pre-med classes at Reedley College. Ten years later, she has graduated from medical school and is now preparing to enter a residency program in Arizona this June.

I knew I wanted to be a doctor ever since I was about 12 and my plan was to get started as early as possible, Manor said.

Manor entered Reedley High as a freshman in 2001, and before the start of her sophomore year, she had already taken and passed the California High School Proficiency Exam. Other than the golf team and Mrs. Merciers science class, Manor said most of the high school classes bored her and she was ready to accept a more difficult challenge. By the summer of 2002, Manor had enrolled in medical classes at Reedley College.

Since medical school is expensive, Manor has supplemented her income by working as a waitress at the Outback Steakhouse in New York City where she currently resides.

Manor is one of eight children born to Rhon and Sheri Manor of Squaw Valley. When Rhon would ask his young children what they wanted to be when they grew up, Manor would respond by saying that she wanted to be an artist since she loved to draw.

He told me that I was already an artist and that I needed to study something else in college. I loved science and always admired my family doctor, Manor said.

Manor said her parents have been one of her biggest sources of encouragement on her journey to becoming a doctor. Her father flew an F-16 at the Fresno Air National Guard. Her mother, having eight children, was a stay-at-home mom.

My father was very successful in everything he did. I always admired him for protecting our country and for his accomplishments in the air force and academically. He was the one who taught me that I could become anything in the world I wanted to be - even the President of the United States, Manor said.

Manor said her mother is an equally amazing person. She said her mothers example of patience, kindness, empathy and self sacrifice are the driving force behind her desire to become a doctor.

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Squaw Valley native prepares for graduation from medical school