My mom was a successful lawyer in the Supreme Court in El Salvador, where I was born. I watched her move ahead in her career, as she earned promotions over time. Ultimately, she was vice president of the tax ministry in our country. This kind of leadership position interested me a lot. I often wondered how people learn these skills, and if it was something I could learn.
The first time I took on any leadership role was actually the year after we first moved to the United States, my freshman year at Sonoma Valley High School. I decided that I wanted to enroll in the Leadership class, and it changed my life. More recently, I was elected senior class president after a term as sophomore class president two years ago.
Through Leadership, I learned how to interact with students of all ages, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. I learned how to raise funds for various causes in school and in our community. I am also participating in Link Crew, mentoring 10 incoming freshmen. I love assisting them throughout the school year, and provide ongoing support.
My Leadership and math teacher, Tammy Rivara, has been a mentor to me. She helped me apply to “Students Rising Above,” a program that provides support and financial assistance to underprivileged students who will attend university. She is dedicated to students above and beyond her duties and responsibilities. She inspires me to always give my best effort.
I think the most valuable lesson I have learned at Sonoma Valley High is that students should get out of their comfort zone and not be afraid to take risks. When I was a freshman, I was very quiet and shy. Leadership helped me develop confidence, while making new friends and having a good time.
I also decided to try out for football, even though I had never played and was not really athletic. Although I wasn’t the team star, I ended up loving the sport and made many new friends I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Another lesson I learned is to be true to yourself; if you are honest, people will accept you for who you are. Again, during freshman year, I started to become involved in some of the many clubs offered at our school. Although my friends at the time did not share my interest in this, I felt that I had to give the clubs a try. I knew deep down inside that I was a curious and motivated person, and I needed to explore these opportunities. I joined Mock Trial, a club that trains students to argue fictitious legal cases and compete with other schools throughout Northern California. It has been invaluable in improving my public speaking ability in English, my second language, and in developing critical reasoning skills. It has also taught me how to work cooperatively with others.
Last summer, I was one of four boys selected from Sonoma to attend the Boys State program in Sacramento. We participated in this prestigious program designed to teach young people about local, city and state governments, and how they are run. There were approximately 1,000 of the highest achieving boys from all over California, and we were involved in legislative sessions, court proceedings and law enforcement simulations.
My goal for next year is to attend a top university, such as Stanford, NYU, or UCLA, to study international relations. My long-term goal is to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a lawyer, working toward eliminating world poverty. I hope to work with the United Nations or UNICEF at some point in my life.
Most of all, I want to make my mom proud. I want to show her that all the sacrifices she made for me and my brother have paid off. She sacrificed for us by leaving her country, her home, her family, her friends and a successful career when we moved here four years ago. I owe everything to her. As a community member, I want to continue giving back to Sonoma, a city that has given me so many opportunities.
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You can see Rico’s image on one of the green and white I Choose banners featured around town.
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