What inspires you?
There are many people and events from my past, which inspire me every single day to strive. My little brother, Bryan, for example, motivates me to be a person of integrity with aspirations and determination to achieve any goal. He propels me to be a role model that he can look up to with admiration. Over the course of my life, I have endured many obstacles and hardships; however, these adversities stimulate me to paint a great future for myself through the diligence of my commitment both at school and within my community. What inspires me every single morning is the promise of a life that will bring forth happiness to myself and my family.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject in school is Environmental Science. To begin, I am gifted with an energetic and passionate teacher, which motivates me academically. This is my favorite subject because it is essential to be educated on a topic of such importance as the environment. Through this class, I have become aware of many environmental issues that people may not even know about. This course offers education on a wide spectrum, and prompts me to want to become an environmental scientist.
If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?
If I had the power to change one thing in the world, I would get rid of hatred. It saddens me to realize there still exists such a negative feeling. I cannot understand why people can despise their own kind, or how someone can even think about harming another. If I had the opportunity to erase hatred from the hearts of everybody, I would do it in a heartbeat.
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
If I had a ticket in my hand to go anywhere in the world, I would go to the poorest regions in Africa. As the compassionate person that I consider myself to be, I would like to aid those people that are struggling for their very own existence. I want to provide hope for those that do not see the end of the dark tunnel. Having gone through many hindrances myself, I would like to turn those experiences into a positive one by helping others move forward.
Name one big challenge in your life right now.
One big challenge in my life right now is balancing my time between school, family, friends and scholarship deadlines. I find it very difficult to have any free time for myself when I have a million other obligations.
What do you want to do after high school?
I would like to travel somewhere different and explore new landscapes. I would like to spend some time away from people in complete isolation with only nature to accompany me as I reflect on my life and dreams about my future.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be an environmental scientist and to one day provide solutions to issues such as pollution or the increase in human population.
Something that makes you smile?
Something that makes me smile is being surrounded by those I love. To me there is nothing more important than spending time with my whole family.
What are your three favorite things?
My three favorite things are pizza, books and nature. I love pizza and would eat it every day if I could. I also love reading books. Ever since I was younger, I developed a love for books thanks to my mom. I remember her reading to me every single day. My upbringing also influenced my love for nature. I was raised in a tiny town named Salida and was always surrounded by nature. I have always been more of an outdoor person, and as a result I grew a passion for the environment.
Favorite book:
I have always enjoyed reading love stories, regardless of how dramatic they may be. This is why I would say that Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is my favorite book.
