Jasmine Jacques: How did you get into doing ballet folklorico dancing?

Alexandra Barrera: Well, I used to do dance like hip hop and things like that outside of school and I know Mrs. Somers because she’s the advisor. She asked me, “You know how to dance, right?” I was like “Yeah,” and I had recently started doing folklorico a few months ago because I saw it on TikTok. I have always been interested in it, but she asked me, “Would you be interested in being my captain?” And I told her, “You know what? Yeah.” So, I did some research and that’s kind of just how I got into it.

JJ: So, you said that you’re the captain; what is your role as the captain?

AB: My role as captain is to make sure that the girls know the choreography and to come up with the choreography. Mrs. Somers is supposed to handle getting things to our person who funds us, which is CAPS, but I decided to take that stress off her. So, if my girls need shoes, or dresses, I’m the one who gets the sizes and all of that and I run that over. If there’s performances or anything, Mrs. Somers will get the official email, but I will talk with the advisors or administrators, who are doing it and I also handle information.

JJ: I heard that you are part of ASB; how is that?

AB: It’s pretty cool. I go and help. I got my food handlers certification thanks to ASB because I needed to help with the snack bar for the football games, which is something I also do. And it’s just something that’s a good experience. It’s something that has definitely taught me a lot and it’s helping me succeed.

JJ: So, would you recommend that people join ASB?

AB: 100%, even if you don’t get into an elected position, because I’m not in an elected position, I’m just kind of there. I do think that helping with ASB definitely kind of helps you network a little bit. It’ll give you some good connections.

JJ: I’ve heard that you are a good leader. Why do you believe people think that?

AB: I think that people think I’m a good leader because I tend to take charge. If I know something needs to be done, I will come up with a solution, either on the spot or as we go. I make sure everybody knows what we’re doing, so that we can get it done and we can get it done right.

JJ: Why did you decide to compete for Miss Cardinal?

AB: So, I had friends who previously competed for Miss Cardinal and they all told me that it was such a good experience and it was so much fun. And that even if I didn’t win a title, it would still be a good positive experience to have.

JJ:  Why do you feel that you are a good candidate for Miss Cardinal?

AB: I’m a good candidate because all of my competitors, they are great people. I know most of them, but I feel like I stand out because I know how to lead and I want to bring more than just a pretty face to the title.

JJ:  What do you feel are your greatest accomplishments?

AB: I think one of my greatest accomplishments would be my folklorico team because there was nothing there. There were no girls who wanted to do it and Mrs. Somers, she doesn’t know how to dance folklorico. So, I think one of my greatest accomplishments was bringing together that team and that group of girls to do something as beautiful as folklorico.

JJ: Who would you say is your greatest supporter?

AB: My greatest supporter would definitely be my grandma because she didn’t birth me, but she raised me. And she’s just kind of always been there for me when I needed something. If I wanted to talk, I know that I could call her and she would be there for me.

JJ: If you could give your younger self some advice, what would that be?

AB: I would tell my younger self to not be so overly, overly anxious about certain things because as a child, I was a very anxious person, I didn’t really talk to anyone. I feel like as I got older, I kind of burst more out of my shell and I realized, you know what, I was hiding for no reason. I would definitely tell myself to be less anxious about certain things. 

JJ: What do you think brought that change, from being anxious, to being the way you are now?

AB: I think that I definitely met the right people. I started talking to the right people and they kind of helped me come out of my shell. 

JJ: What advice would you give teenagers your age or younger than you?

AB: I would probably tell them, you know what, just don’t be afraid, just do it. The worst thing that could happen is you get rejected, but even if you get rejected, there’s still always another opportunity. There’s always another door that will open up when one’s closed.

JJ: So, is that advice that you live by?

AB: Yup! The worst thing that someone can tell me is no. And even if they say no, someone else can tell me yes or something else. There’s always another opportunity.

JJ: What would you say is your greatest memory overall at school?

AB: My greatest memory would probably be the homecoming football game last year. I was working at the snackbar, but it’s just the energy that we had because we put so much energy, it wasn’t even just the football game, everything, because I was also helping with the float. So, being able to go around and then going to work in the snack bar and seeing everybody’s energy just made it a really good experience.

JJ: I know you said you enjoyed the football game, but what were your other favorite school events?

AB: I think my favorite events are probably winter formal because it’s not as big as homecoming and it’s not as big as prom, but it’s one of those little events that are still so much fun to go to.

JJ: So, would you say you prefer the smaller events or the bigger ones?

AB: That’s a hard choice. I definitely prefer the bigger events because I’m a very social person, but the smaller events are a lot more fun because there’s less people.

JJ:  If you could go back in time, what would you do differently? 

AB: If I could go back in time, I would do a lot of things differently, but, I feel like those things that I did really shaped the person who I am today. One thing I would change is I would 100% be more careful with who I was hanging out with because who you hang out with really influences you as a person.

JJ: What do you plan on doing after school?

AB: So, after high school I plan on attending Valley College and pursuing a degree in radiology. So, I basically want to sit in a cold dark room and take pictures of bones all day. It makes good money and it’s just fun.

JJ: What do you think brought you this interest?

AB: Definitely last year, during physiology when we had a radiology lab and I just found it so interesting and it’s just something I want to pursue.

JJ: What are some goals you currently have for yourself?

AB: Graduate. One of my number one goals is to graduate. My number two goal would probably be to try to make some good changes here at school because it’s my last year, If I don’t have to come back. I hope I don’t have to come back and I just want to leave this place better than it was last year.

JJ: What do you plan on doing to achieve those goals?

AB: As I said, I’m part of the Principal’s Advisory Council and we actually have a meeting, so I’m hoping we can go over more ways to beautify the campus like organizing a campus clean-up. We were planning on doing a garden, so I want to see if we could get that started.

JJ:  What do you feel that people should know about you?

AB: Something people should know about me is I’m not going to bite you, first of all. I’m a very nice person like yeah you’ll see me probably running around a lot, like don’t be afraid to say hi. I am a very nice person. I’m very social. Even if I don’t know you, I’ll probably still talk to you.