During her senior high school year, Vanessa was nominated to attend the National Youth Leader's Conference in Washington, DC. She graduated ninth in her class, and received a scholarship from the Compton Courthouse. She was a Co-Captain on Paramount High School's drill team, the school's Pirate mascot one year, a Corsair, the ASB Commissioner of Rallies, on the Prom Court, and voted Female Student of the Year by her high school instructors.
