Jocelyn Pena is a freshman here at MECA, she is already making waves in class and in extracurriculars. She is very active at school, a cheerleader and member of the Speech and Debate team, Jocelyn is also actively involved in MECA’s ASB, showcasing her leadership skills and passion for community engagement. She also likes sports, having participated in the first house competition. Dance is also one of her many interests, having won lots of competitions.

At just 14 years old, Jocelyn landed her first job at Infinite Glow Makeup Studio, where she works as an associate and Academy lead. “I wanted to start working young to secure my future,” she shares. Balancing work and school isn’t easy, but Jocelyn handles the pressure very well, showing the importance of time management and self-motivation. “I’d rather be stressed than broke,” she said.

Alongside her job, Jocelyn is also successful on TikTok, having nearly 11,000  followers by sharing makeup tutorials, hauls, and dance videos. “Being a content creator takes time, but it’s worth it,” she explains. Through her platform, she not only inspires others but also teaches other students how to be influencers through her club at MECA, Micro Influencers, focusing on personal branding and consistency.

Jocelyn’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through her own business venture, where she has already started to process orders. “I believe in starting early and taking risks,” she exclaims. When people ask her, what inspires her to keep going and not give up. She said that “I’d rather choose five years of sacrifice than 50 years of regret.”

As Jocelyn continues to excel in cheerleading and academics, her story is proof that hard work and resilience is an important part of life. “Never let anyone box you in,” she advises, reminding everyone that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Keep an eye on Jocelyn—this is just the beginning!