As students at the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District prepare to graduate, the valedictorians, salutatorians, and campus organization presidents at each of the district’s comprehensive high schools share their experience at HCISD and their future plans.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? – “After graduating from Texas A&M, I plan on serving in the Texas State Guard or United States Army for at least four years. After or during my service, I will go back to school to earn my Masters of Engineering degree. After I leave the service and finish my Masters, I will begin my career as an agricultural engineer working for a firm or food company. I hope to eventually open my own engineering firm when I earn my Engineering Certification, have experience in the field, and have established contacts within the field.”
What teacher has influenced you the most during your time in high school? – “I’ve had so many great teachers, but I’d have to say Ms. Janelle Sternberg because she has inspired me to major in Biology. She had the utmost faith in me in that class. I took it as a junior instead of a senior to get ahead. She encouraged me to keep going, and she was always there when I needed her.”
What is your motivation? – “I always strive to do my best. I feel that if I’m not using my full potential, I’m being wasteful. In the sense of our economy today not using my full potential wouldn’t be benefiting my country. That hurts me and hurts the people around me as well. It’s not a single person that is motivating me, but it’s me just wanting to be at my best.”
Click here to read more about Savannah C. Butters.
What types of community service have you participated in? What did you learn from that experience? – “This past summer I volunteered as a camp counselor for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. It’s a weeklong cancer patient camp. I got to help the kids do different activities, as many of these kids have not been outside in a while because they’ve been in the hospital for so long. Through experiences like that I’ve been able to find out more of what I want to do and what I want to pursue. This confirmed that I wanted to go into the medical field to help others.”
What teacher or teachers have influenced you the most during your time in high school? – “Ms. Deborah Vaughn, she was my AP English III teacher last year. She was really good at teaching me about writing and different techniques. That inspired me to like words and use rhetoric to persuade people. She’s really someone that inspired me and helped me appreciate literature.”
Describe an experience that has benefited you as a person and/or shaped your future. – “In the Boy Scouts of America we have definitely gone around the community with different Eagle Scout projects and different community service projects that we do as a troop. I would say community service is a highlight in my high school experience. Being an Eagle Scout taught me about character. It went beyond schooling. It taught me the definition of a good citizen, putting others before myself, and other very valuable life traits that I don’t think I would have explored as much, had I not been in the program. I’m very grateful for that.”
Click here to read more about Christopher Hinojosa.
Describe a school experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. – “Projects that involved working with other people taught me that success isn’t just going to just be based on what I do. It’s going to involve my ability to work with others towards an end goal. I think that the ability to work with others is an important skill to have. Learning to be a good communicator is a valuable character trait to have.”
What is your career goal? – “My career goal is to use my degrees to move up the ladder at a company to become the chief financial officer or start a company. I know it’s a really ambitious goal to have, but I’m prepared to put in all the hard work and it’s something I’m very passionate about. Finance and business has always interested me. I also want to be in a position definitely to give back to my community.”
Describe a school experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. – “Running for class officer was actually a big experience form because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. It has actually helped me realize that I’m a really good leader. It taught me that I have a lot of potential in things that I didn’t think I could do. I feel like I’m really coming into my own.”
