Several GVS students recently participated in a writing competition put on by YES! Magazine. Here is the entry submitted by Brisa, a GVS 7th grader.
Hello, my name is Brisa Aguilera my name means “Little Breeze”. I am thirteen years old. I live in Julian, California way up in the mountains above San Diego. I am Native American and my Indian name is “Coqui’na” which means Yellow Corn Maiden. Where I live have lots of animals. I have cats, dogs, chickens and horses. I love all of my animals and fortunately I get to care for them and see them everyday since I homeschool. I have been homeschooling since I was in third grade. My school is Global Village and I enjoy it greatly, it works for me! So I had to ask myself what is my gift? I had to think for awhile…and then I had it!
I love to ride my horses, I would ride all day if I could. We have five horses but only two are mine. I have a beautiful Quarter-horse and the other one is my little pony. I love them dearly. The pony’s name is Little Elmer and my Quarter-horse’s name is Speedy. My horse Speedy is my barrel-racing horse and my pony Elmer is kinda retired but not really. I still ride him and he and Speedy are best of friends. When I ride my horse Speedy we have a connection. He understands me and I understand him. It’s like we are reading each others mind. Speedy love to run and run, so whenever we can I say “ok boy” and we run! I love to feel the wind going through me. It almost feels like I’m a bird flying in the air, and I think Speedy loves it as much as me. So I feel that is a gift, to have a special connection with a animal, a horse.
The other gift that I have is that I am a Level 8 gymnast. I have great strength, I am balanced and I think I have good coordination. I work out four days a week, for three and a half hours. Being a good gymnast you have to believe in yourself because when your going for two back hand- springs on the beam that is 4 inches wide… you have to believe that you can do it!
With my athletic ability I do trick riding which is gymnastics’ on horse-back. I’m on a team called the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls we are a trick-riding and trick-roping team. So it helps that I do gymnastics. I love trick riding, I want to do it for the rest of my life. We perform at rodeo’s all over the United States. When your on the team to ride it is no trail ride. Another part about being on the team is that everybody has to be a team leader. You don’t have to be a loud leader you can be a quiet, but humble leader. That’s what I am and I’m also a good listener, I do what we need to do and get it done. For one thing, before we perform I have to wash my horse, brush him off, saddle him up and then get myself ready. Nobody has to remind me to do all of that so I’m being a good leader by setting a good example. For the younger girls.
My gift is being a good listener, I am quiet but always alert to what is around me. I listen to my horses, and to my body and to others. So who am I? You might ask…I am Brisa, Little Breeze, a great leader!!
Posted under Culture
This post was written by Global Village School on August 4, 2011
I’m grateful to schools that make space for young people to discover who they are. It makes me so happy when I hear of a strong, young woman who knows herself so well. Keep on listening . . . especially to yourself. You are a gift to the world, Brisa!