Red Gold News

Jose Villarreal is a sophomore who is currently in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and Poetry UIL.
“What mostly made me get involved in these activities is mostly my friends. They encouraged me to be more outgoing and less nervous when it came to public speaking,” Villareal said.
The main challenge he has faced with these extracurriculars is social anxiety.
“I’d say I’m very timid, so I easily get nervous or even scared when presenting in front of people. But I’ve gotten better with practice,” Villarreal said.
In FBLA, he has gained skills like leadership, money management, and time management.
As for poetry, Villarreal gets out of his comfort zone, lowering any social anxiety he might have in specific scenarios.
“While it is difficult to keep up with my extracurricular activities, my teachers make it so much easier by being lenient with work,” Villareal said. “I also have to sacrifice a lot of my free time to catch up on work I may have missed.”
The person who motivates Villareal is both his FBLA and poetry sponsor Jennifer Garza. She has made him more confident in himself and has generally improved Villareal as a student and person.
“I personally believe that it will be worth it in the end. Not only do I get to experience a journey with FBLA, but I also improve my social skills, a skill that will be essential in my education,” Villarreal said.
While his career might not involve a lot of public speaking, it will definitely have a lot of interactions with other people. He believes that by the time he graduates, he won’t be the same timid freshman he once was.

Merging the early college schools was a decision that took everyone by surprise. Students at Jimmy Carter Early College High School were left wondering if the merger would change their school experience, for instance, how it would influence their classes, schedules, and the close ties they have built within their school community.
Upperclassmen would not be affected the most, as this would be their last year at Jimmy Carter, although this news did shock the seniors.
“My first reaction to the merge was unexpected, but I have not had any negative thoughts about it; I think it is good timing,” Alexa said.
Some seniors are excited about the merger but wish it had happened sooner so they could have experienced it themselves.
“I wish they could have done it when we were sophomores or freshmen so we could experience more people,” Rubi said.
Alexa said that while the timing seems good, she would have liked the change to have occurred earlier in her high school journey so that she would have had the opportunity to be part of the larger campus.
Although there was some positive feedback, some students expressed negative feedback about the merger due to all the early colleges coming together.
“I was shocked because it’s weird how they’re going to take down two schools to combine them into one,” Rubi said.
Students who will still attend Jimmy Carter next semester will experience a new environment with different students, teachers, and a new school community.
“I’m excited about this new merger because there will be new students, teachers, and new experiences overall,” Samara said 

When we are young, the world feels limitless, and our dreams reflect that sense of boundless possibility. But as we grow older, life often takes unexpected turns. What happened to childhood dreams when faced with reality? 
Our current seniors share their childhood aspirations, how their paths changed over time, and what they dream of becoming today.
“When I was younger, I dreamed of being an astronaut; it wasn’t deep; I was never interested in their work; I just thought space was beautiful,” Angel Elizondo said. “I grew older; I realized how much I disliked the job an astronaut does, so my goals shifted into something more my style, like helping people.” 
Elizondo knew his dream of becoming an astronaut wasn’t realistic, and once he grew up, he realized he didn’t want to be one; he just really enjoyed space and its beauty.
“Now I just want to be a common police officer and hopefully a hero and inspiration to kids and teens, maybe even some adults, if possible.”
“I was no different than most as a kid. I loved staring into space and watching videos on how pretty the universe is. Even now, I love it!”
“I wanted to be a doctor when I was little. Growing up around the stigma of being in the medical field was my main goal and still is to this day, as I am pursuing that career in real-time.” Jessica Anguiano said. 
Jessica wanted to be a doctor when she was a kid, and as she grew, she continued with that goal and realized what type of medical profession she’d be best at.
“My mind has changed as I’ve gotten to grow up and learn about myself and know what I can handle, but as well as I got more educated and more understanding of the medical world and the vast majority of professions, I learned what was best for me to pursue: a pharmaceutical scientist.” 
“When I was younger, I always wanted to be a lawyer. I always found it very interesting and appealing, especially because I always watched shows like that, and my dad always wanted to be in law enforcement,” Lizania Rodriguez said. “It was an idea that I grew up with because I would hear it from others and watch it on shows, but now that I grew older, I would like to pursue something in the medical laboratory science field. I want to become a medical laboratory scientist.”
When she was small, Lizania was inspired by her dad, close relatives, and shows, but as she started growing, she realized law enforcement wasn’t for her, and she realized her true love for biology.
“When I was younger, I wanted to be many different things: a doctor, a teacher, and maybe even a singer. I was inspired by what I saw around me or what seemed exciting at the time,” Michelle Verdin said, “but as I got older, my interests started changing; I realized that I loved being creative and helping people feel good about themselves, and that led me down to looking for careers that focus on beauty, self-expression, and helping others feel confident. Now I settled on being a cosmetologist.”
Verdin had many interests and knowledge of different jobs, but once she grew up, she knew she wanted to help people feel confident.
“It’s not about a simple job anymore; it’s about making a difference in people’s lives and doing something I love,” Verdin said.
“When I was younger, I wanted to be a singer, but as I grew up, I realized that was a little girl’s dream,” Yulaisy Muñoz said. “I now want to do something that I know will make me happy and would be able to help me learn new things every day.”
Muñoz would like to pursue a career in which she learns something new about humanity every day and enjoys working.
“I’ve seen many jobs and have understood that not every job fits everyone, and that’s ok. I now want to be a psychologist because I want to be able to help others. Everyone, including those suffering, deserves everyone to live at their fullest potential. 
“When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a surgeon and help save lives, but as I grew older, my mind started to change about being a surgeon because I didn’t think I would be able to handle the guilt of not being able to save all my patients.” Maria Garcia said.
When Garcia was a kid, she wanted to become a surgeon, but she stopped going for that dream because she knew she didn’t want to deal with the guilt that came with it.
“Now, I want to study forensic science and become a forensic science technician.” 

For many High-achieving students, success comes at a hidden cost: sleepless nights, persistent voluntary pressure, and an overwhelming fear of failure that never quite fades. While their accomplishments are evident, many don’t see the sacrifices that they make behind the scenes.
It’s easy to think of high achievers as role models, but what happens when the pressure gets too much? The constant need to be perfect can take a toll, even if it’s not apparent to others. For students like Jose and Ruben Flores, success isn’t just about what they have achieved; it’s about maintaining a standard they must always meet. But there are so many unseen sacrifices and mental burdens that come along with it.
High-achieving student Ruben Flores views success as a personal goal.” Perfection? For me, it’s someone who manages to complete all their goals and strives for more even when they achieve them,” he explained. Ruben feels minimal pressure; if anything, it mostly comes from his parents and the fear of letting them down.
However, the pressure to be the best can take a toll, especially when external praise becomes the main motivator. School Counselor Ana Salinas has seen how this affects students. “For the most part, what I have seen is students struggling with anxiety, and then that sometimes leads to depression,” she explains. “Some students get the perfect grade, and instead of celebrating, they immediately worry about maintaining it.”
For some students, failing isn’t an option, but the fear is always there. Jose admits, “I do feel pressure… and I think it comes from actually, just myself.” Even without any external pressure, internal expectations can be really overwhelming.
Ruben, on the other hand, has a different mindset. “I just don’t expect failure. I try my hardest, and if I fail, well, that’s fine with me,” he states. This perspective is very distinct from those who feel like failure means they aren’t good enough.
Salinas encourages students to set realistic goals. “I tell students to look past high school—where do you want to be? Set goals that align with your future instead of fixating on perfection in the present.”
Finding a balance between excellence and mental well-being can be very challenging but important. Jose turns to hobbies he likes to relieve stress, while Ruben finds peace by distancing himself from things that cause him emotional stress. “When I’m not at my best, I really like to just take my mind off of it, take a break, and it doesn’t affect me emotionally,” Ruben shared.
Salinas stressed the importance of balance. “The key is having something that serves as a stress reliever, whether it be spending time with friends, going for a walk, or simply taking a break from the pressure,” she advised.
The most common misconception about high achievers is that they don’t have a lie outside of academics. “People assume they don’t have a life—that all they do is study,” Salinas said. “But labeling students this way ignores their struggles and individuality.”
While excelling in school is very admirable, it should not come at the expense of mental health. Ruben says that the constant pressure to meet expectations can be very draining. “People expecting a lot out of you really takes a toll on your mental health,” he said. “The only motivation you should have is from yourself.”
With so many students struggling with the weight of expectations, the challenge remains: How can schools create a culture of excellence without burning students out? Salinas believes that it starts with creating open lines of communication and providing support systems. “Schools need to create environments where students feel comfortable expressing their needs. It’s about balance—academic success should coexist with emotional well-being.
For those who feel weighed down by the pressure to be “the best,” her message is clear: “It’s okay to strive for excellence, but don’t forget to think about what brings you joy. Find balance, and remember that perfection is not the goal—growth is.”

Emanuel Zavala, a football player at Juarez-Lincoln High School, is managing both academic and athletic demands as he works toward his goals.

Zavala stays focused in his college-level classes, making sure he keeps up with his coursework.

“I focus on controlling what I can and giving my best effort in everything I do,” he said.

Even when facing setbacks, he looks at them as learning experiences.

“Whether it’s a bad grade or a tough loss, I don’t let it define me. I learn from them,” Zavala said.

Balancing school and sports means long days. He often stays up late to finish assignments before attending early morning workouts.

“There are nights where I’m exhausted from practices but still have to stay up late studying,” he said.

On game nights, Zavala plays a key role for Juarez-Lincoln. In a recent win over Donna North, he recorded more than five tackles to help his team.

“I’ve loved football for as long as I can remember,” Zavala said. “Growing up, I watched games with my family, and I always wanted to be out on the field.”

Zavala said he is always looking to improve and puts in extra work when needed.

“I am always trying to improve, and I do not settle. I will put in extra repetitions, hours—whatever it takes,” he said.

He plans to continue his education while exploring opportunities to play football at the next level.