Student spotlight: Leaders of Latinos in Action

Photo: Jackie Blanco.

At Park City High School, Victoria Rosales, Leo Santiago, Jackie Blanco, and Amairani Santiago lead Latinos In Action (LIA), a course and program designed to empower Latino youth to lead and contribute to their community. The course is facilitated by a teacher, with Victoria and Leo as the presidents, and Jackie and Amairani as the vice presidents. Together, they organize the LIA students of Park City High School in events and service projects, while setting goals and making plans for a future of opportunities. Amairani states that, “The main purpose is just becoming more involved in the community, as well as breaking stereotypes. They want us to go to college–not get pregnant young–do well in school, and be a part of the community.”

Every year, LIA organizes a Día de los Muertos event, centered around the Latino community and culture. LIA students break into different organization committees, including marketing, dancing, and decorating the ofrenda, which is an altar honoring the souls of departed loved ones. People wear flowy and traditional dresses and eat customary dishes, and the Parley’s elementary school orchestrates a dance. In the past, the event has overflowed with attendees, and it continues to grow as the event gains more traction within the community.

In addition to events, the students of LIA design a service project during the school year’s third quarter. Last year, the club led a donation drive for the Park City Christian Center, collecting essential items from their peers within the school and community. Two years ago, LIA gave all Park City School District paraprofessionals a basket. These projects are brainstormed by the class and voted on, aimed at targeting the Latino community.  With projects such as these, there are many obstacles that get in the way. Victoria stresses the importance of communication in avoiding these challenges, stating, “We need to have a lot of communication in order to get approval from everyone to do these projects. Also, most high schoolers are really busy and they have to do it on their own time.”

For Victoria, Amairani, and Jackie, the skills they have learned both within and outside of LIA are paving the way for their future. As a high school senior, Victoria plans to attend college next year, and potentially go to law school after that. After taking U.S. history and government classes in high school, she has cultivated an interest in politics and government. In the future, Victoria could see herself working as a lawyer, specifically an immigration lawyer or environmental lawyer, which are both areas of study she is interested in. 

Despite being juniors in high school, Amairani and Jackie also have plans for their future, starting with a college education. After college, Amairani is interested in pursuing a pHD, possibly in something STEM related, which is centered on maths and sciences. Jackie is interested in a business-related area of study, a field that engaged her after taking business and marketing courses throughout middle and high school. 

Victoria, Amairani, and Jackie have all found and fostered their interests through classes at Park City High School. The classes helped them gain the chance of exploring and taking college courses, playing a significant role in forming their passions. The three encourage others to take Advanced Placement courses, put effort into those courses, and build strict and disciplined habits within them. Amairani advises high schoolers to remain curious within the classroom, stating that high schoolers should, “Ask questions, because the more you want to learn, the more you will start learning. And when you do, you’ll realize what you like and what you don’t like.” She also tells students to build connections with their teachers, as it makes school more enjoyable. Victoria advocates that high school students ask for help, because in her own times of struggle asking for help has made a positive difference. 

Beyond academics, Victoria, Amairani, and Jackie have busy lives. Jackie is a cross-country runner, a sport she started her sophomore year. Through cross-country, Jackie cultivated more life skills, stating “I showed up every day and it helped me improve, and that is something I can apply to real life.” Amairani focuses on dance, where she trains and volunteers with her team. In ballet, and in the real world, she says, “You get out what you put in, so you put in a lot of effort.” Victoria is a mountain biker for the Park City high school team, where she’s found how easy it is to lose progress when you give up. Instead, she chooses to continue building as an athlete and a person to become better. Victoria, Amairani, and Jackie all emphasize discipline as one of the most important skills that has emerged from their separate sports, a skill that has served them in serving their community as the students and leaders of LIA.