The Outstanding Youth Report is aimed at highlighting young people in our community who are identified and nominated as being outstanding contributions to the community. For our September Outstanding Youth Report, we are highlighting Jocelyne Ortega.

Ortega is 16 years old and a junior at Questa High School. To say she is busy is an understatement. She is a member of the Questa Honor Society and participates in volleyball, basketball, and cheer. She also works at the Questa Farmer’s Market and at Rosie’s Smokehouse.

She is proud to say that she completed her first ever 100-mile pilgrimage.

When asked how she juggles so much at just 16 years of age, she says “I do it one day at a time and one event at a time.”

When asked what she loves about living in Questa, she says she loves the strong sense of community. She has grown up with close bonds to her family and friends and Questa has been a central part of that journey.

Ortega says her greatest role model in her life is her mom, Jacqui Ortega. She also says Jennifer Vialpando, local art teacher and volleyball coach has made a huge impact in her life.

When asked what advice she would give to younger generations, she says “I would say don’t rush growing up. Enjoy your childhood while you can and just be a kid.” She says her best memories of growing up in Questa are having the freedom to be a kid and roam free, and she hopes other kids will enjoy those precious moments as well.