Super Kid: Mirna Barraza, Everett High School

Q: You're a leader in Everett High's Latin Image Club. Tell me about that.

A: We help Latino students get motivated and keep going to graduate. Right now there are about seven to 10 of us. I'm on the executive council. My freshman year, I started going to the meetings. We have meetings every Thursday. We have Latino speakers, people who have graduated. For the Martin Luther King assembly, we did a dance. And we have family nights. Ms. (Lillian) Ortiz-Self, a counselor, invited me to be on the council.

Q: Have you lived in Everett all your life?

A: I have. My parents are both from Mexico. They came when they were 19 years old. My mom's sister was already here.

Q: And you have siblings?

A: I'm the oldest of three girls. Jessica is 8 years old, and Nancy is 13. I'm trying to be the role model. My parents don't know a lot about college, but they support me in anything I need. I'm setting the stones in place.

Q: Did you grow up speaking Spanish?

A: I speak Spanish at home, and I took AP Spanish last year. Because I speak it, some things were easy in that class, but the grammar and spellings were hard. I hope to be able to be a translator working in a health field.

Q: So you plan to attend college next year?

A: I'm hoping to go to college and study pre-med. I'm aiming for UW Bothell or Everett Community College. EvCC is building that new health sciences building.

Q: You're in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). As I understand it, that's a college-readiness class.

A: I got into AVID last year. It helps with preparing resumes, college applications and finding scholarships. Last year, we got to go on a trip to see Eastern, Western and Central Washington universities. If it weren't for AVID, I probably couldn't have gone.

Q: And you have a job outside school?

A: I work at Broadway Plaza as a food server. I have Mondays and Wednesdays off and work three-hour shifts the other days. It's my first job. I started in the summer. Most of the people are friendly. I get out by 7 p.m., so I have time to do homework before and after work.

Q: What classes have you enjoyed at Everett High?

A: Chemistry and biology. Those weren't my best grades, but there was so much to learn, how it all fits together. My hardest class is pre-calculus.

Q: Any other extracurricular activities?

A: I played softball for Everett last year. "Fever" was my nickname in softball, for not giving up. I played outfield. I'm also in leadership class for the first time this year. We're planning for the food drive. I'm helping find Spanish speakers to translate on the day we deliver food boxes.

Q: Have you been to Mexico?

A: I've been to see my grandparents in Chihuahua. That was about seven years ago. I hope to go this summer after graduation.

Q: Will you have a favorite memory when you leave Everett High?

A: This year I got the opportunity to emcee an assembly to introduce candidates for the homecoming court. It was in front of the whole school, and I was kind of nervous at first. Not everybody gets to do this.

Q: When you do find some spare time, how do you spend it?

A: I like movies -- funny and action movies -- and music, a little bit of everything. I help around the house, cooking and cleaning. And I help my sisters with homework. The 13-year-old is really good about it, but the 8-year-old wants to watch TV.

Q: Do you have some special family traditions?

A: On Christmas Eve, we all get together. We open our presents at midnight, and we all spend the day together. I like Christmas, and the December weather.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; muhlstein@heraldnet.com.