Teen Hall of Fame: Arturo Barajas

Senior, Davis High School

E-Mail

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

One class can completely change your life. Arturo understands this first hand.

In his freshman year, Arturo signed up for Ag Science in place of his Earth Science class. He also joined the Future Farmers of America.

"I signed up for a couple activities (for FFA), and from there it just escalated," he said.

Modesto Bee - Arturo Barajas, senior at Davis High School, Teen Hall of Fame. Oct. 23, 2009. (BRIAN RAMSAY/bramsay@modbee.com)

Today, Arturo is the chapter president of FFA. He is in charge of leading other officers, fundraisers and activities that Davis High puts on.

"I've learned how to lead groups of people, and to understand the different types of people that you have to interact with," he said.

In addition to the leadership position, Arturo is also on the agronomy team in FFA. It deals with plant science and weeds, and with their classification and identification. Arturo's team won the state competition this year and recently went to Indianapolis to participate among 56,000 other students at the national competition.

Arturo has also shown lambs and pigs at FFA competitions.

"I like the opportunities that you get (from being in FFA)," he said. "I've gotten to meet professors from Cal Poly and congressmen, and I've gotten to see places I wouldn't have before, like Washington D.C., New York, and Boston."

Because of FFA, Arturo said that he has gained real-world experience, such as being on his own.

"It's a great program that people don't understand and look over," he said. "They think we all want to be farmers, and we don't. I think I've kind of been opened up to a whole new world thanks to my involvement in FFA."

In addition to FFA, Arturo participates in the KCRA Kids Can food drive as well as the Adopt-A-Family program. For Kids Can, Arturo informs classes and teachers, gives out prizes and encourages students to help out with the charity. For Adopt-A-Family, Arturo and a group of seven others take care of families in need and provide for them during the holiday season.

"It's important to help out in any community," he said. "You might be tired or busy, but if you don't help you wouldn't be helping someone who maybe wouldn't be able to make it."

Finally, Arturo participates in mock trial at Davis as well as soccer for the city. He maintains a strong 3.5 GPA and hopes to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo next fall to major in ag engineering.

FAMILY: Parents, Veronica and Arturo; Sister, Isabel, 15

HOBBIES: FFA, all sports, photography, spending time with friends and family.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE: "My parents, because both of them were born in Mexico and sacrificed a lot for me and my sister, and they sacrificed a lot for us to participate in the activities that we do."

LAST BOOK I READ FOR PLEASURE: "Squeezed" -- it's about economics

FAVORITE MOVIE: "300"

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Probably SportsCenter.

FAVORITE ARTIST: Jack Johnson

WHAT I'D TELL THE PRESIDENT: He's doing the right thing, but people are becoming impatient and they kind of want him to speed up the process.

ADVICE FOR KIDS: Try everything and do as much as they can.

ADVICE FOR ADULTS: Support your kids' dreams, no matter what they are.

WHERE I'LL BE IN 10 YEARS: As an ag engineer with a family, and just settled and providing for that family.

-- VICTORIA PARDINI, TEENS IN THE NEWSROOM

The Teen Hall of Fame honoree receives a $100 check from E.&J. Gallo Winery, movie tickets from Dr. Randy Winter with the Modesto Arts Medical Group, a gift card from Yogurt Mill and bowling passes from Yosemite Lanes.