Aspires for academics
BY EMILEE MAE STRUSS
Jaime “Jimmy” Avila, Wood River High School sophomore, has a 3.6 GPA and is enrolled in AP Spanish, Honors Geometry, and Honors English this year. He has played soccer for seven years.
“I used to be shy until I started hanging out with my teammates more,” Avila said. “It has helped me grow a lot as an individual.”
Avila also enjoys playing pick-up games of basketball, and meeting new people.
“I like spending summers with my friends,” Avila said. “I don’t think it’s good to isolate myself, and it’s fun to meet new people.”
Meeting new people is Avila’s favorite thing to, and to inspire others. He is inspired by people like his sister, Diana Avila, who has demonstrated how to be open and socialize with new people. Avila likes to inspire his classmates to try harder in school, and to not give up.
“Academics weren’t important to me in middle school, but now I understand that it’s important,” Avila said. “I really want to get a 4.0 this year, and maintain it.”
Avila enjoys writing and uses it as a coping skill when he feels nervous or cannot get something off of his mind. He writes short stories and navigates emotions through journaling. Avila also enjoys history, participating in the WRHS architecture program and mathematics.
This summer Avila worked at the Sun Valley Resort in the laundry department and occasionally helped his father with masonry. His uncle, father and grandfather are all involved in construction, which has given Avila a basic understanding of the job. Avila’s uncle owns EE Enterprises, a local construction business, and has inspired Avila to build a picnic table for his personal project in school.
Avila has grown up in the Valley with a special appreciation for how warm and welcoming the people are. However, Avila has hopes to eventually venture outside of the Valley. For now, his main mission is to meet more people.
“More people means more happiness,” he said.