Written by Rochelle Schmidt

“There’s always going to be people talking about you and saying this and that,” she said. “But at the end of the day, I have other girls who are looking up to me, so I have to keep my head up and keep moving forward.”

That sense of responsibility doesn’t stop at cheer. Barrera is the kind of person who always puts others first, something her friends and family tease her about. “You’re always last,” they tell her. But she shrugs it off. 

“It makes me happy to take care of other people,” she said. “Even if I get stressed out or frustrated, I still like doing it. I know what I’m doing.”

Her journey into leadership started in an unexpected place: cheerleading. 

“I used to be so, so shy,” Barrera said. “I could not speak at all. It was really hard for me to make friends, up until I came to high school. I joined cheer and that really pushed me to come out of my comfort zone. I owe everything to my coaches.”

As captain, she’s learned how to connect with different personalities, how to pick people up when they’re struggling, and how to turn setbacks into motivation. She remembers one competition when her team placed second by just two points. 

“I was really disappointed in myself. I thought, ‘We could have done so much better,’” she said. 

But instead of letting the moment break them, she turned it into fuel. At the next competition, they came back stronger and claimed first place.

Barrera’s drive to give more of herself shows up everywhere: in cheer, gymnastics, DJ club, ASB, community service, and even her part-time job on weekends. Her days are packed from morning to night, often leaving little time for herself. 

“Sometimes I don’t even eat because I’m so busy,” she said with a laugh. “But I love being involved. I love learning about new things and meeting new people. I love it.”

Her caring spirit also shapes her dreams for the future. Barrera hopes to become a registered nurse specializing in labor and delivery. 

“I love babies, just the way they come into this world, everything amazes me,” she said. 

But for her, it’s not just about the babies, it’s also about the mothers. 

“I’ve heard so many stories of women who had horrible experiences in labor. You’re bringing a person into this world, and for you to have that type of care…it doesn’t sit right with me. If I can make a difference in that moment, I want to.”

Barrera credits two mentors here at San Bernardino High School with helping her grow into the leader she is today: her cheer coach, Jacob, and her teacher, Mr. Aguilar. Both, she said, are more like family than staff. 

“I actually see Coach Jacob as family. He taught me everything I’ve learned so far,” she said. “And Mr. Aguilar, I look at him like a dad. He really cares about all his students, not just me.”

As she prepares for the Miss Cardinal pageant, Barrera is clear that it’s not about the crown. 

“It’s more than a crown,” she said. “I’ve seen my friends become Miss Cardinal, and it’s about showing up for your community, leading, and representing your school. That’s what it means to me.”

And when it comes to her school, Barrera is fiercely protective. She bristles at the negative reputation some outsiders have of San Bernardino High. 

“It gets me so mad because I’m like, how are you gonna have an opinion about a school you don’t even go to?” she said. “I go here, and I love it. The people, the staff, everything is amazing. So why are you having opinions about us? Leave my school alone.”

High school, Barrera said, has taught her to enjoy life, to seize every opportunity, and to lead with care. Whether it’s guiding a cheer squad, volunteering in the community, or one day helping new mothers in the delivery room, her heart for others shines through. 

“It gets hectic sometimes. I’m not going to lie,” she said. “But I love being involved. I love doing community service. I just really enjoy it.”