Ariana Parra is a senior at Mt. SAC Early College Academy. Since her freshman year, Parra has been well known for bringing energy and enthusiasm to everything she participates in, whether in academic projects or extracurricular activities, both in and out of school.
Throughout her high school journey, Ariana has been involved in various clubs and organizations, often taking on leadership roles that highlight her ability to inspire others. For instance, she is one of the current officers for the school’s Speech & Debate team and has been a part of the program for nearly three years.
While on the team, Parra traveled to places like Harvard and Chicago, Illinois, and was the George Armstrong Heart of Illinois 2022 Novice Informative Speaking Champion. Yet, one of her favorite parts of the activity is getting to know her competitors on a deeper level.
“I love getting to meet people from very different areas,” explains Parra. “Like, I have this friend that I made in Wisconsin, and I talk to him all the time. It’s really fun just to talk to these people, and figure out what made them write their speeches. It’s also really nice to hear and learn about different topics that normally you wouldn’t give a second glance to in a 10-minute speech.”
Outside of Speech & Debate, one of the many activities that she is a part of is ballet folklorico. As a dancer, she recently performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at NASA and will be traveling to London to represent Mexico in their London New Year’s Day Parade. However, it is not the flashy costumes or the intricate dances that make Parra enjoy the activity.
“Being able to represent my culture is a majorly important thing,” Parra explains. “Coming from a first-generation American family, my parents encountered a lot of struggles, so I could come and have a better life. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. And by representing Mexico, I feel like I’m able to honor my family and more.”
One of her favorite dances to perform is “Margarita.” The reason behind it being partially the costume but also because , “We get to dance with sparkly fans. It also has really intricate footwork. It’s really satisfying to hear your heelwork everytime you stomp or twirl.”
Not to mention, Parra is one of the peer tutors for ceramics. She joined the ceramics program during her sophomore year of high school after the late art and ceramics teacher Elizabeth Hoffman encouraged her to join. Soon after, her love for the art form grew.
She has taken her love of ceramics outside the classroom. “I joined an internship over the summer where I taught kids how to do ceramics, and [it] was cool. It was very nice because I got to meet new people in an area that I really enjoyed. And it was fun getting to hang out with these kids because they were interesting.”
In the future, she aspires to be an occupational therapist. “I like helping people, and I feel like since I started therapy, it’s been beneficial to me, and so I’d hope to do the same for other people.”
However, as she moves into the next chapter of her life, she says she will miss the culture surrounding Mt. SAC ECA.
“The great thing about this school is that we get to form such a close connection to all of our teachers; just getting to hang out with them and talk to them, you feel closer to these teachers, and I’m gonna miss that.”
Parra’s commitment to her peers and passions set her apart as a leader. Whether it’s her peer tutoring for ceramics, helping lead the Speech & Debate, performing ballet folklorico, or being a supportive friend, Parra showcases her diverse talents and also demonstrates her unwavering dedication to uplifting those around her. Parra is not just a participant in her community; she is a driving force for encouragement and excellence, embodying the essence of leadership in every aspect of her life.
