By Kristine Thomas
To understand how dedicated Silverton Future First Citizen Valeria Vazquez-Trejo is to community service, ask her health occupation teacher Geralyn Sheets.
“Val asked me what time the First Citizen banquet started on Feb. 28,” Sheets said. “When I asked her why, she wanted to know if she would still have time to volunteer with the Red Cross on that same day.”
Valeria plans to spend the morning as a translator for Red Cross volunteers who are installing fire alarms in homes.
Volunteering for the Red Cross is one of many activities this 4.0 honor student does. Besides taking advanced placement and college level courses, she is a member of the cross country and track teams, Link Crew, National Honor Society, Peer Court and senior class vice president. She is also a Sunday school teacher.
Silverton High School Principal Mark Hannan said Val was chosen as Future First Citizen because of her selfless willingness to give back.
“She plans on becoming a doctor and entering the Peace Corps,” Hannan said. “Val is such a humble and hard-working student. I know she is destined to help improve the lives of others less fortunate. I can only hope she someday returns to our community.”
An easy-going young lady with a bright smile, Val credits her parents Noe Vazquez Montalvo and Evelin Trejo de Vazquez as her inspiration.
In 1996, her parents moved from Mexico to Oregon because they wanted to make a better life for the children they would someday have, Valeria said, adding she was born in June 1997. Her father works at an organic dairy farm. Her mom works at home, caring for her and her sisters, Alejandra, a freshman, and Natalia Elizabeth, who is in second grade.
“My parents taught me to be the best I can be and to not conform to low expectations,” she said, sharing she knew little English when she started first grade. “My parents have told me if I dedicate myself I can do anything.”
Meeting each other unexpectedly in the school hallway, Valeria and Alejandra were genuinely happy to see one another. By listening to Valeria talk about her younger sisters, it’s obvious she’s proud of them. As they are of her.
“Val is amazing. She always tries really hard and takes care of me and our younger sister,” Alejandra said. “She’s my inspiration and she tells me about the importance of getting good grades. Whenever I tell her that I can’t do something, she tells me not to say ‘can’t’ because I haven’t even tried yet.”
Valeria is grateful for her friends support and encouragement. “My friends help me a lot. Whenever I am taking things too seriously, they help me enjoy things and not to be stressed.”
She credits Alejandra for inspiring her to become a doctor. Valeria said her sister has a condition that required her to spend a lot of time at doctors’ office. “The doctors were always the nicest people ever and they made me want to have a career in medicine. I want a career where I can give back,” Valeria said.
SHS Student Activities Director Johnie Ferro describes Valeria as a wonderful, young lady who, despite having “crazy, hard classes, she finds time to volunteer and give back.”
