We received a nomination for Ariana Medina to be recognized in our October Outstanding Youth Report.
Medina is 16 years old and a junior at Questa High School. She was born and raised in Questa by her mom, Angel Medina. “It has just been me and my mom and my sister our entire lives,” Medina says.
Medina has been cheering since she was quite young. “My mom has been a cheer coach for a long time, so I got started really young, at just 3 years old. I knew since I was very young that I wanted to cheer, and my mom has always supported that.”
Medina is not only a cheerleader, but she also plays volleyball, participates in track, and has played in Mariachi. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and takes college classes through UNM-Taos.
When asked how she juggles everything she’s involved in, she says “I try really hard to not have homework. I go from school directly to volleyball practice until about 6 p.m., then after that, I go to cheer practice until 8 p.m. When I get home, I eat dinner, then go to bed—so I need to do my homework during school to ensure I don’t fall behind.”
When asked how living in Questa has impacted her journey, she says “I have been in Questa my entire life. I cannot imagine being raised anywhere else. I love our community because over the years, I’ve seen us grow much more united and be much more supportive of each other. I see things like the [Questa] farmer’s market or other community events and it shows that our community is so strong.”
Medina says she has enjoyed seeing her classmates grow up alongside her, as they’ve learned and experienced so much together. “When you’re small, you don’t really think about the future, but now, I just love that we have experienced elementary, middle, and high school together. We’ve grown together and that’s an experience I will carry forever.”
When she graduates high school, Medina has her sights set on becoming an ultrasound technician. “I want to attend school at NMSU and I have a goal to make it on the cheer squad! I have my sights set on this goal and I want to make it a reality.”
Although Medina is only 16 years old, she already has two state championships under her belt in cheer. The team won state for the first time when she was in 8th grade. “It takes blood, sweat, and tears. It’s also really important to trust your teammates so you can be united toward the same goal.” In addition to her cheer championships, Medina has also been in the National Honor Society since she was in 7th grade and placed fourth in the state for pole vault in her 8th grade year.
When asked who her hero is, Medina says her mom is her biggest hero and support. “My mom has endured a lot in her lifetime yet she’s always been there for me and my sister. She is my rock, and I am grateful for her.”
