The high school students featured on these next pages are truly amazing! They entered our annual Super Teens contest (nextSTEPmag.com/SuperTeens) and wowed us with their extracurricular activities, accomplishments and plans for the future. We hope you are inspired by their stories and are moved to get involved in your community. To read about winners nationwide, see nextSTEPmag.com/SuperTeens. Congratulations to all of the applicants, and especially the amazing winners!
Paloma Valley High School senior Katrina Aquino says her mother has had the greatest impact on her life. Her mother came to America first, then brought her father, brother and herself over for the best opportunities. “(She brought us here) to fulfill any dream we had,” Katrina says. Katrina, who lives in Menifee, Calif., dreams of attending college to major in nursing and minor in a passion of hers, photography. Katrina also spends a lot of her time volunteering at her church group and teaching kindergarteners.
After several members in her family died of various cancers, Carie Castro from San Diego, Calif., was prompted to take action. As an active member of the American Cancer Society, she hopes her service will create a better future for cancer survivors. “My hope is that this devastating disease can one day soon be eradicated,” she says. Carie, a senior at Grace Christian High School in a home schooling program, dreams of attending college and law school and joining or opening a successful law firm. From there, she hopes to one day become a politician.
St. Ignatius College Prep junior Lisa Chan says participating in pageants has had the greatest impact on her life. “Many believe pageants are corrupt and phony; however, I disagree.” Lisa credits the pageants for helping her break out of her shyness and become more confident and self-assured. Lisa, who currently lives in Daly City, Calif., plans on attending Stanford and Harvard Law School before becoming a corporate lawyer. She says the phrase “Inches makes champions” is the best way to describe her drive to succeed.
Connie Ip from Oakland, Calif., says she stands out from her peers because she is a visionary and an innovator. She says she pushes others to consider possibilities they have never considered. “When they are satisfied with the status quo, I make plans to extend it beyond what it is and make it larger than life.” Connie, a sophomore at Skyline High School, says her immigrant parents have had the greatest impact on her life and who she is becoming. From watching them work hard to achieve their dreams, she has become motivated to succeed and aspire for the impossible.
Kristen Mann, from Corona, Calif., has placed among the nation’s top baton twirlers in her category and is captain of Santiago High School’s Varsity Majorette team. She has been able to attend several state and national competitions and is hopeful this summer will bring more excitement. She plans on continuing twirling into college and dreams of winning a place as a feature twirler. “I still find time and excel in other things that life so graciously gives us, such as my passion for baton twirling, love for my family and friends and keeping a good moral character.”
San Ramon Valley High School senior Alexis Kim Nordine says her grandfather has had the greatest impact on her life. “His wisdom and courage has given me the confidence and strength to be the best I can be and never settle for less.” She says his zest for life inspires her. Alexis dreams of attending college, joining the student government and training to be an All-American runner. “My passion defines who I am,” she says. Alexis currently lives in Danville, Calif.
When his best friend died of a rare form of bone cancer in 2005, Frederick Scarf decided to do what he could to help others with the same disease. “At the age of 15, I founded and (became) executive director of a non-profit organization called The Shiri Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for the cancer that killed my best friend.” The foundation’s goal is to cure osteosarcoma. When he went as Santa to the hospital where Shiri died to share Christmas with some of the patients, he says he was reminded that small actions can go a long way. Frederick is a junior at Birmingham High School and lives in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
