Posted inStudent Profile, Education

Perseverance and Passion: Redwolf and Husky

Marianna R. by Marianna R.

Partaking in the identities of a junior Redwolf student at Jimmy Carter and a Husky at Juarez Lincoln’s dance-drill team, Susana Hernandez tackles balancing the different roles in her life through her passion.
Hernandez’s passion for dance has existed since she was a little girl.
“Every time I would put music on, I would dance my heart out because I love dancing, and I wasn’t afraid to dance in front of my parents,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez’s interest in the drill dance team was sparked in middle school.
“I would see some of the girls dancing, some of the girls in the team right now. They would have a lot of fun dancing, and they were happy. I decided to pursue this dream because I love dancing,” Hernandez said. “Like my dad used to say, ‘Never say you can’t when you haven’t tried.’ “
Juggling college courses at one school while maintaining after-school activities has proved itself to be a challenge. However, Hernandez has found sanction in the balance of trusting herself, her religion, her family, and her teachers’ support.
“A factor that influences the way I handle both extracurriculars and school work is God and my mom. My mom supports me with anything, which makes me so happy, and God helps me so much because He is always there for me when I need someone else to talk to besides my mom,” Hernandez said.
Besides her family and her God, Hernandez accredits her success to her responsibility.
“Another factor in life that helps me juggle is my responsibility. If I missed something in school, I ask the teachers, and they help me,” Hernandez said.
The drill team does come with its adversities. Hernandez has been a part of Juarez Lincoln’s drill team since her freshman year but quit because attendance was affecting her academically. Yet, last year, Hernandez decided to reconnect and rejoin the team.
In essence, Hernandez continues to pursue the drill team because it is an outlet and a sanction of art.
“The drill team has impacted my life because dancing is a form of art where you can express your emotions through a dance no matter which type of dance it is,” Hernandez said.
With competition season rolling in from January to April, Hernandez and her team practice in four out of five dance categories: jazz, Hip-Hop, kick, and contemporary.
If the team advances from local competitions, they aim to win regionals and then nationals. Local and regional competitions will be hosted in Corpus Christi.

Posted inEducation

Strength in Academics: A Young Powerlifter’s Balancing Act

Lizania R by Lizania R

Strength in Academics: A Young Powerlifter’s Balancing Act

Cesar Canche stands out for his dedication to both academic and extracurricular pursuits. Canche remains consistent in excelling both academically and physically.
“It was the gym that drew me to powerlifting.” Canche says, “I wanted to test my limits on how strong I could be.”
Although only competing for a relatively short time, Canche has already begun creating memorable achievements. “My favorite powerlifting memory as of right now is hitting 315 pounds on a squat” Canche mentions. “It’s honestly something I am proud of at the moment.”
Yet, balancing this extracurricular doesn’t come without its challenges. Canche can juggle both academic and powerlifting.
“I prefer to put more of my time into powerlifting, but usually when I see I have to put more work into academics, I take as much as necessary time to work on any assignments, and then resume powerlifting.”
Overcoming these challenges has allowed Canche to learn valuable lessons, discipline and perseverance. “From the previous years, I would never be as strict on myself as I am now,” Canche said. “Powerlifting affects my discipline a lot. I am strict with how I eat and how I lift.”
Canche remains persistent when it comes to setbacks. “”I usually go to training and try to improve on what I failed last time,” Canche said. “I repeat and keep trying until eventually I achieve what I want.”
Canche remains resilient and dedicated to powerlifting and his academics. Showcasing that with passion and determination, balancing extracurricular activities and academics is manageable.