< Previous10 | Education Celebration | 2021 Class of 2021 This year, more than ever, it’s a time to look forward into a world that has become forever changed, knowing that it offers so much opportunity for those who are ready to embrace the challenges of a new tomorrow. Congratulations Galveston County ” 2021 | Education Celebration | 11 This past school year was, without a doubt, a most unique and challenging experience for teachers, parents, and especially students. To say you graduated in 2021 will forever be a badge of honor meaning that you endured a school year like never before, but also a reminder that if you made it through this, you can undoubtedly accomplish anything else from this point forward. Graduation season is a time to reflect on the last four years of hard work, dedication, and hopefully some unforgettable experiences. This year, more than ever, it’s also a time to look forward into a world that has become forever changed, knowing that it offers so much opportunity for those who are ready to embrace the challenges of a new tomorrow. This time in your life is an experience that seems monumental, and rightfully so. This is a major milestone in your overall journey that will be filled with other unforeseen obstacles meant for you to conquer. But know that as encompassing as this moment is, and as unraveled as the past year has seemed, the world will keep spinning and you will move forward having grown stronger from this experience. At some point, this moment in time will someday become a distant, yet defining memory...but today it displays your success on center stage and provides you with the promise that future successes are in store as long as you continue to persevere. Congratulations to all of the 2021 graduates...let’s get out there and make a difference! Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Gibson Superintendent, Galveston ISDMARNAE HAYNES Abundant Life Christian Academy Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parents: Donna Holland and Marcus Haynes College you plan to attend: University of Houston Major: Dental Hy- gienist What are your career plans? My career plan is graduate college with a bachelor’s degree and to work as a dental hygien- ist. Cleaning teeth always interested me. What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? The most important lesson I learned in high school is that friendships change over the four years of high school. It is amazing how I can go from having a whole group of friends my freshman year, to only having 2-3 best friends my senior year. It was hurtful at first losing the connection with those people, however, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I still had them in my life. Change can be a good opportunity. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? My favorite extracurricu- lar activity is dance. I’ve been dancing since I was two years old. Dance gives me a free- dom of expression and it helps me to stay fit. What are you looking forward to about college? I am looking forward to meeting new and unique people. I am a social butter- fly, so I love to talk to variety of people and to learn some interesting facts about them. What is your most important accomplish- ment, and why are you proud of it? My most important accomplishment is winning salutatorian because I’m leaving a legacy at my high school, and a reminder for me to always work hard. What do you do in your free time? I like to write in my journal. My journal is filled with my emotions, thoughts and ideas. It also helps me to re-group about my day and get some things off my chest. What is favorite show to binge watch? My favorite show to binge watch is “Sailor Moon.” I love plot, the characters and the action. I can watch it all day. What is your spirit animal and why? My spirit animal is a panther because they’re fierce, confident and courageous. I am not afraid take advantage of opportunities when they come because it will be beneficial to me in the future. What is something interest- ing that most people don’t know about you? I love to watch anime. My favor- ite shows are “Dragon Ball Z,” “Sailor Moon,” “My Hero Academia,” “HunterXHunter” and “Attack on Titan.” Where do you get your news? I get my news at KHOU11, CNN and The Galveston County Daily News. What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your gener- ation? TikTok is definitely a social media platform that is influential to my generation. TikTok open doors for many creators who are striving to become famous and well-known. What is the most pressing issue of your generation? The most pressing issue of my generation is racism and discrimination. Yes, racism has been around for decades, but it progresses more through the years and it gets worse. I wish people were taught to love and not to hate; judge the character and not the skin. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? Do not get complacent with only doing the bare minimum. For example, take every class serious; your GPA is vital through your four years of high school. This will help you to graduate successfully. ALEXANDRA VASUT Ball High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parents: Brent and Stephanie Vasut College you plan to attend: University of Texas at Austin Major: Public Relations What are your career plans? I plan to pursue a career in public relations or broadcasting. What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? The most important lesson I learned in high school was to always keep a positive attitude and to look for the silver lining in all situations. This has helped me to be a better and stronger person. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? My favorite extracur- ricular activity was cheer because it al- lowed me to contribute to school events and have fun while also being able to participate in community service and be a leader. What did you enjoy most about high school? My best memories in high school are with the new friends I gained through Ball High and the in-class learn- ing made fun by my great teachers. What are you looking forward to about college? I am looking forward to taking the next step into my future and being able to enjoy myself while still receiving a great educa- tion. What is your most important accom- plishment, and why are you proud of it? Receiving the citizenship award was my biggest accomplish- ment because it showed me that the faculty believed in my character. What do you do in your free time? In my free time, I enjoy doing anything out- side and spending time with my friends and family. What is favorite show to binge watch? “Greys Anatomy” What is your spirit animal and why? My spirit animal is a dolphin because I love the water and dolphins always seem happy. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? My mom always told me that hard work pays off and to keep my shoulders back and chin up. These pieces of advice have proven to be useful and have allowed me to keep positive and move forward onto college. Moving onto my dream college has allowed me to see that my hard work has paid off. What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? I am Greek and come from a huge, awe- some Greek family. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/her and why? I would ask Jack Dorsey how he would propose regulat- ing social media in a country founded on freedom and free speech. What social media plat- form do you think is the most influential for your genera- tion? Twitter What is the most pressing issue of your generation? Social Media If you could give one piece of advice to incoming fresh- men, what would it be? My brother is an incoming freshman and I constantly tell him that if he tries his hardest, participates in all activities, keeps a positive attitude, and learns from his mistakes, he will be successful. 12 | Education Celebration | 2021RICHARD FARLAND Bay Area Christian School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parents: Joseph and Katherine Farland College you plan to attend: Houston Baptist University Major: Mathematics BS What are your career plans? I want to work in pure math doing re- search and discovering new math. What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? We all need friends. It is important to look out for the new kid. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? Golf. Spending time with friends out on the course was great. What did you enjoy most about high school? Math class. I enjoyed my teachers and being a part of a math club. What are you looking forward to about college? I am looking forward to meeting new people and making new friends, as well as studying math at a higher level. What is your most important accomplishment, and why are you proud of it? My most important accomplishment has been overcoming dyslexia. What do you do in your free time? Read books. What is favorite show to binge watch? “The Ben Shapiro Show.” What is your spirit animal and why? A dog, because it is man’s best friend. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? Drugs are not good. What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? I am fluent in Turkish. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/ her and why? I would ask Fermat what his simple solu- tion to his last theorem was. Where do you get your news? The Daily Wire What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your generation? YouTube What is the most pressing issue of your generation? Liberty vs. Equality If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? Work hard, but there is no good reason to get stressed out. GABRIEL HULL Clear Creek High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parents: Deven and Catherine Hull College you plan to attend: Clemson University Major: Mechanical Engineering What are your career plans? I want to become a mechanical engineer and help build things to better the world. What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? Life can be anything that you make it. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? Playing on the soc- cer team was my favorite because I love playing soccer, and I love playing with my teammates. What did you enjoy most about high school? I enjoyed playing soccer and spending time with my friends. What are you looking forward to about college? I am looking forward to being more independent and learning to live on my own. What is your most important accom- plishment, and why are you proud of it? Getting four-year Superintendent Scholar because it paid respect to all the hard work I did in high school. What do you do in your free time? Listen to music and watch Netflix. What is favorite show to binge watch? “Survivor” What is your spirit animal and why? A sea turtle because it’s what an online quiz told me. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? The truth gets you the furthest in life. What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? I have grown up my whole life with cerebral palsy. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/ her and why? I would ask O.J. Simpson if he really did it because did he really do it? Where do you get your news? From The Daily News or the 5 o’clock news What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your genera- tion? Snapchat What is the most pressing issue of your generation? Letting the two-party system divide the country. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? Don’t waste your time unhappy, high school is short. 2021 | Education Celebration | 13CHLOE’ TWYMON Clear Falls High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parent: Cynthia McGaskey College you plan to attend: Xavier University of Louisiana Major: Accounting What are your career plans? To get a job after college. What is the most import- ant lesson you learned in high school and why? Control what you can con- trol. I learned that you can’t always control things, but you can control the effort. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? Being manager of the Clear Falls High School Girls basketball team was my favorite extracurricular because it taught me to try new things. I became more social and got the opportunity to meet new people. What did you enjoy most about high school? I enjoyed becoming General Manager of The Village Vault! What are you looking forward to about college? I look forward to meeting new people and getting involved into campus activities. What is your most important accomplishment, and why are you proud of it? As General Manager, my most proud moment was finding out we made more than $64,000 in total sales. I’m proud of that because COVID took the beginning of our senior year but to make that much money is a blessing. What do you do in your free time? I like to spend time with my family. What is favorite show to binge watch? My favorite show right now is “All Ameri- can.” What is your spirit animal and why? My spirit animal is a hummingbird because I am in- dependent and bring joy into others’ lives. What is one piece of advice parents gave you that turned to be true? My mom has told me is “Everyone is not your friend.” What is something interest- ing that most people don’t know about you? I like listening to all types of music. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/her and why? Oprah Winfrey. I would ask what kept her motivated in order to be successful in life. Where do you get your news? The news channels, such as Fox 26 and ABC News. What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your generation? TikTok What is the most pressing issue of your generation? Mental Health If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? To get out of your comfort zone, and try new things. TRE’VANNI BASS Clear Springs High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parent: Sharlene Bass College you plan to attend: Sam Hous- ton State University Major: Animal Science Pre-Vet What are your career plans? Attend graduate school and become a licensed veterinarian What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? The most important lesson I learned is time management. This is important because it helped me manage my complex life and achieve my goals the best way possible. What was your favorite extracurricu- lar activity and why? Football was my favorite extracurricular activity because I created a lot of lifetime bonds and devel- oped leadership skills. What did you enjoy most about high school? I enjoyed the social aspect about high school the most. It made me into the man I am today and helped me to excel academically What are you looking forward to about college? I am looking forward to taking classes that interest me, along with new classes for my field of study. What is your most import- ant accom- plishment, and why are you proud of it? I am very proud to be called a 4four-time Su- perintendent Scholar. I am proud of this because it took four years of time and effort, and, in the end, it all paid off. What do you do in your free time? I en- joy playing video games with my friends and cooking with my mom. What is favorite show to binge watch? I love to watch “The Flash” and could watch it every day. This show has so many twists and turns, and it keeps me on my toes throughout with seven seasons. What is your spirit animal and why? My spirit animal is a small dog. They like to relax, and so do I. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? My mom always said “Effort is your best friend.” This happened to be true in school and sports. What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? Most people don’t know that I am a very good swimmer. I was once on my high school water polo team. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/her and why? Kevin Hart, because he is a very funny comedian and success- ful business man with helpful advice. Where do you get your news? Galveston County Daily News What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your generation? Instagram and Snapchat because most teens are on them daily What is the most pressing issue of your generation? The most pressing issues are COVID-19 and police brutality. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? I would tell the freshmen the same thing my mom told me, “It’s all about effort.” 14 | Education Celebration | 2021DECZARIE MENGUITO Dickinson High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parent: Diana Morales College you plan to attend: College of the Mainland Major: Ready Set Teach What are your career plans? Nursing What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? The most important thing I’ve learned in high school is to work hard and cherish every moment. My freshman year, I was so ready to get out of school, not thinking once your almost done you cannot go back. I’ve built strong relationships with my teachers and fellow students What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? My favorite extracurricular activity would be TAFE (Texas Association for Future Education). I won many awards during my TAFE years. I advanced to state and national competitions with my research paper about Autism and online class. What did you enjoy most about high school? I enjoyed playing tennis. It helped me with my leadership skills and to be a team player, which I didn’t think I had in me. What are you looking forward to about college? I’m looking forward to further my studies in nursing and meet great people. What is your most important accomplishment, and why are you proud of it? My greatest and important accomplishment would be advancing to nationals with my research paper about Autism for TAFE because I never would’ve thought that I would advance. I’m very shy, but with the help of my teacher and friends, I presented it to the best of my ability. What do you do in your free time? I practice tennis. What is favorite show to binge watch? “Pretty Little Liars” What is your spirit animal and why? Lioness, queen of the jungle. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? “Work hard now and enjoy later.” What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? I am shy at first, but once you get to know me, I am crazy — in a good way. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/ her and why? I would want to meet Edgar Allan Poe and ask him about the poems he wrote. What or who was his inspirations? Where do you get your news? I get my news from the television. What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your generation? Instagram What is the most pressing issue of your generation? The most pressing issue of my generation would be insecurities because a lot of people judge whether you are skinny, fat, dark or light. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? Like my parents would tell me “work hard now, enjoy it later.” RAKEL HUTCHINSON Friendswood High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parent: Tyan Hutchinson College you plan to attend: Midwestern State University Major: Nursing What are your career plans? I plan on becoming a nurse practitioner, and I want to work at a hospital in the future. What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? Time management because of project due dates and other assignments. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? My favorite extracurricular activity was basketball because it made me be able to show off my leadership skills. What did you enjoy most about high school? Making lifelong friends. What are you looking for to about college? I’m looking forward to becoming more independent and living on my own. What is your most important accomplishment, and why are you proud of it? My most important accomplishment this year is probably becoming a Pal because I got to change the lives of other children and guide them. What do you do in your free time? In my free time, I like to play basketball and spend time with my family. What is favorite show to binge watch? My favorite is “SpongeBob SquarePants.” What is your spirit animal and why? My spirit animal is a polar bear because their fur is actually clear but they reflect their surroundings. I feel like the people that I keep in my life reflect me as a person. The snow reflects off of a polar bear’s fur the same way my surroundings influence me. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? Success can come from failure. I learned this because my sophomore year I didn’t make varsity and it made me work harder so then when I did get on varsity, I was the best. What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? Something interesting about me that most people don’t know is that I work at H-E-B. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/her and why? If I could meet one famous person it would be Adele. I would choose her because she’s very influential to younger women and is all about body positivity. Not to mention, I also love her music. I would ask her how she got her inspiration to be a songwriter. Where do you get your news? I get my news from The New York Times or social media. What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your generation? I believe that either Twitter or TikTok are the most influential social media sites for people my age. What is the most pressing issue of your generation? I feel like the most pressing issue of our generation is how divided our country is by politics. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? If I can give one piece of advice to freshman, I would advise them to have fun and make every moment count. 2021 | Education Celebration | 15ROBERT STEWART High Island High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parents: R.D. and Stephanie Stewart College you plan to attend: Stephen F. Austin Major: Education What are your career plans? Being a history teacher and a coach. What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? Personal responsibility because I know what needs to happen and how I can make it happen. When I need to do something, I will do that thing and take care of myself. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? Playing sports because of all the mem- ories I have made along the way. I also had a lot of fun playing these sports. What did you enjoy most about high school? The memories I made along the way with different people. What are you looking forward to about college? Living on my own and taking care of myself. What is your most important accomplish- ment, and why are you proud of it? Making really good grades because I proved I can do the things that need to be done. What do you do in your free time? Watching sports or playing video games. What is favorite show to binge watch? “The Ranch” on Netflix. What is your spirit animal and why? Dog because I am mostly chill until someone pushes me to the limit. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? Never take life for granted. One moment you could have fun, and the next moment something bad can happen to you. What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? I am a big fan of racing photographs and collectibles. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/her and why? Dale Earnhardt Sr. because I will ask why he did not like the HANS device for his own safety, and I also will ask him how tough was it to be in NASCAR. Where do you get your news? Social media What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your generation? Twitter because people will post their own side of stories, no matter right or wrong, and people will agree with them. What is the most pressing issue of your gener- ation? Human rights and the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? Enjoy the four years of high school be- cause you will never get them back. TAYSIA BATES Hitchcock High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parents: Gary Horton and Tasha Bates College you plan to attend: University of Houston Major: Business What are your career plans? Accountant What is the most im- portant lesson you learned in high school and why? Learning how to manage money; it taught me to be more inde- pendent and keep my own money, so I don’t have to ask my parents too much. What was your favorite extracurricu- lar activity and why? Cheer because it’s fun, and it’s nice having little kids and other stu- dents look up to you like a role model. What did you enjoy most about high school? Making memories with my class- mates. What are you looking forward to about college? Freedom. I’m ready to see the world. What is your most important accomplish- ment, and why are you proud of it? My most important accomplishment is being top ten in my class because I worked hard and studied to get the grades I have. What do you do in your free time? I like to watch movies and shows. I also like reading good books. What is favorite show to binge watch? I love to watch “Criminal Minds.” What is your spirit animal and why? My spirit animal is a monkey because they are super smart and so active. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? Everybody is not your friend. What is something interest- ing that most people don’t know about you? I’ve never frac- tured or broken any bones. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/her and why? Michelle Obama. I would ask her how can she leave her house knowing that so many women look up to her. That’s my question because I know it can’t be easy, especially when you make mistakes when there are strangers criticizing your every move. Where do you get your news? Mainly The Daily News or Instagram. What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your genera- tion? Tiktok What is the most pressing issue of your generation? I think it’s police brutality and racial issues. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? Don’t stretch yourself too thin; remember to have fun. 16 | Education Celebration | 2021NICHOLAS CORTINAS O’Connell College Preparatory School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parents: Anthony and Andrea Cortinas College you plan to attend: Texas A&M University Major: Finance What are your career plans? Right now, I would like to be a financial analyst or manager, but my plans could change. What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? The most important lesson I have learned is to always take some time to recuperate. Stressing over every minute detail is so unhealthy and unnecessary, especially in high school. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? My favorite extracurric- ular activity was National Honor Society be- cause I was able to gain valuable leadership experience as president and participate in some incredible service projects as well. What did you enjoy most about high school? In my opinion, the best part of high school has been the people; I enjoyed being surrounded by all of my friends, classmates and teachers each and every day. What are you looking forward to about college? I am most excited to be placed in a new environment; I have always attended very small schools, so it will be an interesting experience to transition to a much larger setting in college. What is your most important accom- plishment, and why are you proud of it? I am most proud of becoming valedictori- an. This has been a goal of mine for a very long time, and, after so much hard work, it feels incredible to finally accomplish this feat. What do you do in your free time? When I have any free time, I am usually either cooking or watching Netflix. ADRIAN DIAZ Odyssey Academy Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner Parents: Doris and Reymundo Diaz College you plan to attend: Galveston College Major: EMS What are your career plans? I plan to continue my education in EMS. What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? Communication, because it is very im- portant to be able to communicate with others to reach goals that you can’t reach by yourself and to meet new people that you may need to work with. What was your favorite extracurricular activity and why? My favorite extracurricular activity was volunteering. I say this because I enjoy helping the community. What did you enjoy most about high school? What I enjoyed the most about high school were the people I met and the friendships I forged along the way. What are you looking for- ward to about college? I am looking forward to meeting new people in college. What is your most import- ant accomplish- ment, and why are you proud of it? My most import- ant accomplish- ment was winning the Mosbacher Scholarship. I’m proud of it because it was my first scholarship. What do you do in your free time? In my free time I enjoy reading and writing. What is favorite show to binge watch? My favorite show to binge watch is “Dexter.” 2021 | Education Celebration | 17 What is favorite show to binge watch? “Shameless” is currently my favorite show to binge watch, but “The Office” is probably my all-time favorite. What is your spirit animal and why? According to BuzzFeed’s “What is your Spirit Animal Quiz,” my spirit animal is a hedgehog because I am too sharp, and I can’t say that I disagree. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? My parents have always told me to truly be happy with whatever I pur- sue and to never let anyone dictate what I do. As long as I truly want it, I can accom- plish anything. What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? I showed rabbits at the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo when I was in middle school, and I won Reserve Grand Champion twice. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/ her and why? I would like to meet my favorite chef, Marcela Valladolid, and ask her about her cooking journey and some of her favorite recipes and tips. What is the most pressing issue of your generation? Aside from everything related to COVID, I believe that climate change is the most pressing issue of my generation. There are serious implications with this is- sue, and we are really starting to see some of its disastrous effects. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? Make the most out of your experience in high school, it will be over before you know it! What is your spirit animal and why? My spirit animal is the honey badger. I say this because no matter what chal- lenge it faces, it fights back. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? “You never know what is going to hap- pen.” What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you? I am a writer. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/her and why? I would like to meet Clive Barker. I would ask him “As a writer, how are you ever satisfied with the stories you write?” Where do you get your news? I get my news from an online sources, such as Fox 26 or CNN. What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your gen- eration? Instagram What is the most pressing issue of your gener- ation? The most pressing issue of my generation is battling the old tradi- tions and ways of thinking. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? “Work hard now so that you can relax later.”MACY BERTOLINNO Santa Fe High School Leslie P. Daughtry Scholarship Winner 18 | Education Celebration | 2021 Parents: John Bertolinno and Jennifer Macauley College you plan to attend: College of the Mainland Major: General Studies What are your career plans? Undecided What is the most important lesson you learned in high school and why? I learned that it is so important to be kind to others. You never know what someone is going through and spreading kindness can help others immensely. What was your favorite ex- tracurricular activity and why? Student Council because it has been my comfort zone in high school for the past 3 years. Everyone is very close in this program, and we are always work- ing together to create fun events for others to be a part of, which I love doing. What did you enjoy most about high school? The memories I am leaving with. I spent my extra time attending multiple sports games and participating in many events with my friends, which is leaving me with hundreds of fun memories to look back on in the future. What are you looking forward to about college? Branching out and becoming more independent. What is your most important accomplish- ment, and why are you proud of it? Grad- uating in the top 10 percent of my class. I am very proud of this because at the start of high school, I wasn’t worried about my GPA or class rank. At the beginning of junior year, I changed that mindset and worked hard in all of my classes for my last 2 years of high school in order to graduate top 10 percent. It was hard to do and took a lot of determi- nation, but I am proud that I did it. What do you do in your free time? I work a lot in my free time and participate in com- munity service events. What is favorite show to binge watch? “The Circle” on Netflix What is your spirit animal and why? A giraffe because they’re so tall, and it seems like they live a relaxing life. What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that turned out to be true? To cherish every moment of high school because time will fly by. In the moment, it seems like the years drag on but, looking back, my high school experi- ence went by incredibly fast, so it’s important to slow things down and enjoy the moment. What is some- thing interest- ing that most people don’t know about you? I am very sympathetic. If I see a homeless person, stray dog or anyone in general that looks like they’re strug- gling, I feel for them and always want to help. If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, what would you ask him/her and why? I would meet Dwayne Johnson AKA The Rock, and ask him if the fame has changed him as a person. I would ask this because I want to know if the success changed him in a way he liked or didn’t like. Where do you get your news? Online What social media platform do you think is the most influential for your generation? Twitter What is the most pressing issue of your generation? Racism If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, what would it be? Live every moment like it’s your last. Don’t worry about drama or other negative things. Focus on spending time having fun before adulting. start your subscription today call 409.683.5201 or scan the QR code with your smartphone no one delivers local news like get your first 3 months for the price of 2!2021 | Education Celebration | 19 What are you doing this summer? Reading a book? Traveling? What about training for a 5K or 10K? The Daily News will be hosting its 10th annual Press Run on Saturday, October 9 . Last year, more than 500 runners signed up to help raise more than $42,000 to benefit our Newspapers In Education program. This support helped us to grow our newspaper distribution by 30%, supply two more curriculum guides and expand into summer school. This year, we hope to build on that success and grow into more schools to enhance classroom learning. So why not get a group of friends, neighbors or coworkers together and start running, walking or jogging your way to a 5K or 10K for a good cause? For more race info, email yvonne.mascorro@galvnews.com. For more information about the NIE Program, visit galvnews.com/nie or contact Yvonne Mascorro at 409-683-5264.Next >