Each month, the principals of Gilroy and Christopher high schools choose a total of four students (two from GHS and two from CHS) to spotlight. GHS senior Jonahluis Galvez is the this week’s Student of the Week.
Name: Jonahluis Galvez
Age: 17 years old
What inspires you?
I get inspired by the people that I interact with every single day. I love taking the time to sit down and have a real conversation to explore what goes on in the minds of others and find out what their dreams and aspirations are. When these moments come along, I can’t help but feel so proud to know people who are so dedicated and have a bright future ahead of them. Whenever I have these conversations, I feel motivated to continue working hard towards my dreams and I think to myself, “If they can do it, so can I.”
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
– My favorite subject in school would have to be Government. Government, to me, is such an engaging subject because it covers a great variety of topics ranging from the social aspects of today’s society to the dynamics of the federal government. It is also interesting to see how others feel about different issues that deal with politics and other socioeconomic matters that have such a big impact on the general public. I also think that my Government teacher, Ms. Pratt, is awesome and does a great job in really illustrating what it is we are learning that day or week by giving us a lot of visual examples and real life situations. I just enjoy listening and absorbing everything that she says as well as the input my fellow students put into the discussion. There is always something to talk about in that class so it is never boring.
If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?
– If I could change one thing in the world, it would be that every child gets the opportunity to get an education. I believe that education is the key to a bright future. By showing children what their little minds are capable of, we can foster the next big innovative idea that will change the way we live our lives forever. The more we know about the world around us, the more we will be accustomed to one another and take action against things we find unjust and be advocates for ideas that we do believe in. Knowledge is such a powerful tool that sometimes, people take for granted. Even though we may not all be Einsteins, I believe that everybody has the ability to do great things by learning new skills every day and applying these newfound abilities to the real world.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
– If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go to Boracay, Philippines. When I went to go visit my family in the Philippines a little over five years ago, my aunt took us to Boracay which is an island south of Manila. This island has the softest, whitest sand that I have ever seen and felt in my life and the crystal blue, luke warm water is perfect to wade in and enjoy alongside the lovely tropical weather that is typical in that region near the equator. I have a very busy schedule on a daily basis, so Boracay, with the beautiful stretch of sand combined with the vibrant aspects of my culture, would be a perfect place for me to wind down and become familiar with my roots. Who would say no, to fun in the sun?
Name one big challenge in your life so far:
– One big challenge in my life so far is my daily struggle to keep up with the demands of my schedule. On average, I have three to five hours of homework for all 5 of my AP classes, and at the same time, I try to juggle leadership, community service, choir, and my family commitments. There is always something on my mind and I constantly have people asking me questions about school functions or help on homework. While this craziness happens around me, I also have to find time to take care of myself and my responsibilities at home. The biggest challenge for me during these times is finding the strength to let go of some commitments and also prioritize what is important in my life at the moment. I always put 110% into everything I do, but unfortunately, there isn’t enough of me to go around and it gets frustrating at times. My friends and family have taught me to take a step back and analyze how much I can handle to be the best I can in everything I do. Ever since I took that time to realize that I am not superwoman, I have become much more effective. I am also able to have time for my responsibilities and myself, and so far, life has been good.
What is your dream job?
– Okay, I’m not going to lie; I’ve always wanted to be an astronaut ever since I was a little girl. Ever since then, my dream job has changed. After the whole astronaut phase past, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon then a lawyer and then a politician. I have so many ambitions; I just figured I could be anything I want. Now, I’m not so sure what I want to be exactly. What I do know for sure is that I want to be in business and work my way to the top. Maybe I could be the CEO of Google or even a manager for some big pop star. I don’t know yet! I just want to live a successful and fulfilling life with a job that I love as well as the opportunity to inspire others to do the same and chase their dreams. After college, I’ll see where the wind takes me.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three things could you not live without?
– If I was stuck on a deserted island, I could not, under any circumstances, live without my laptop, lotion, and instant ramen. I need my laptop because it is the only way I will stay entertained while I’m stranded on the island. I love Youtube, Twitter, and Netflix and those three are enough to keep me occupied for a life time. That’s right; I wouldn’t even use it to call for help. Just kidding. My only problem would be wifi…I hope that someone on the island has a hotspot. Another thing is lotion. Like most islands, I assume this island would have sand, and sand normally makes my skin feel dry and weird and I absolutely hate the feeling. Just like some people don’t like the sound of screeching chalk, I don’t like the feeling of dry feet. It gives me goose bumps. It is essential that I have lotion with me so I can keep my feet and the rest of my skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Now, you can’t go wrong with food, especially instant ramen. Not only is it easy to make, but you can preserve if for a long time so it can last me until I get rescued or discovered. Plus it is awesome tasting and my number one comfort food. Yum.
Favorite book:
– My favorite book would have to be “The Thinking Life: How to Thrive in the Age of Distraction” by P.M Forni. This book is special to me because it helped me learn how to take it one day at a time and spend some time to just think about whatever comes to mind. I learned that that thinking is not only therapeutic, but it also stimulates creative thoughts that can give a person a fresh new outlook on life. This book really helped me through the hard times in my life when I wasn’t so sure where I was headed or how I was going to make it through another stressful school year. I also improved on my vocabulary by reading such an intellectual book. I love learning new words.
Something that makes you smile:
– Seeing other people happy always makes me smile, even if I don’t know the person. If something happens that makes a person happy while I am present and I witness it happen, I can’t help but feel happy inside. Spreading happiness is the best thing a person can do. This is why I love giving presents and making kind gestures. I love seeing the faces of the people when I reward them for doing a good job or if I present them with something unexpected. It is the best feeling to know that I can make someone’s day by doing something simple but thoughtful. Everyone should try it, and trust me, you will come back with a smile too.
