At JCECHS, 15-year-old sophomore Zafkiel Garcia stands out for his friendly personality and the positive energy he brings to everyone around him. Whether he’s spending time with family or friends, Garcia values every moment he shares with the people around him.
“I’m a very social person,” Garcia said. “I like to meet and have conversations with people. I also like to go out a lot with family or friends. I don’t mind going with either one, but the important thing is having a great time with whoever I’m with. That’s what’s important to me—always having a fun, great time.”
Garcia, who was born on Jan. 2, 2010, is the youngest of four siblings, with two sisters and one brother. Growing up as the youngest, he learned early on the value of connection and conversation. His social nature makes him someone who enjoys talking to new people and getting to know their stories, but he’s also learned that even social people need time to rest.
“Well, it’s a good thing but also a bad thing,” Garcia said. “It’s fun to talk to people and get to know them, but sometimes it can be exhausting. Sometimes I just want to be by myself and have my alone time. Since people expect me to be laughing and talking, it can be draining, especially when I’m having a bad day.”
For Garcia, being social comes with both advantages and challenges. While he loves to meet new people, he understands the importance of balance between social time and personal time. “It’s great to be a social person—it has its advantages and disadvantages,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I’ll always love to talk to people and meet new people and make friends.”
When he needs to recharge, Garcia turns to his hobbies. His alone time is essential for him to feel refreshed and ready to take on a new day. “I like to be alone and do my own hobbies like doing homework, playing games, listening to music, taking naps, working out or doing other hobbies,” he said. “That really helps me keep my mind off things, calms me down and most importantly helps me recharge so I can go out there the next day and be more social with people.”
For Garcia, music plays a huge role in helping him relax and reconnect with himself. He listens to a wide variety of genres, but corridos tumbados are his favorite. This genre, a modern twist on traditional Mexican corridos, helps him unwind and express himself.
“The type of music I usually like to listen to when I’m having my alone time and helps me relax is corridos tumbados,” Garcia said. “That music really helps me relax. The artist that I listen to from that is Tito Double P, and it also gives me energy because sometimes I start singing along with the song and honestly it’s really nice doing that.”
Beyond corridos tumbados, Garcia enjoys experimenting with different kinds of music. “I also like to listen to other types of music sometimes to help me relax—like rap, hip-hop, regional Mexican music, heavy metal, Latin music and other types,” he said. “I really like to explore other genres of music and see if I like them. That also helps me relax and explore new music.”
Among his favorite artists, Tito Double P stands out the most. Garcia admires his music deeply and dreams of seeing him perform live someday. “Ever since I started listening to his music, I always wanted to hear him live in concert,” Garcia said. “I would definitely go out there and sing along with him. Tito is one of my favorite artists, so I would go to his concert and sing my heart out to his songs. His music is just muahh—chef’s kiss.”
Between balancing his social life, personal downtime and love for music, Garcia continues to discover what keeps him grounded and happy. Whether he’s surrounded by friends or spending time alone, he strives to stay positive and enjoy every moment.
“At the end of the day, I’ll always love to talk to people and meet new people and make friends,” Garcia said. “But I also need my time to recharge so I can keep being that person who loves life and people.”
