Young ELLA: Gaby Paredes

Not only has the COVID 19 pandemic taken away the remaining of my last high school year, it has also prevented me from getting my cosmetology license. This is because McKinney High School offers juniors to enroll into the cosmetology program to get our license at the end of our senior year. The program requires us to take two exams. Since we won’t be able to go to class and practice for our exams, we will have to do everything on our own without our teacher being able to help us in person and give us advice. My goal was to have my license and work at a hair salon while attending college.

Another way COVID 19 has impacted my school year is by preventing me from seeing my friends; all of whom are going out of state for college. Also, saying goodbye to any of my teachers who have helped me so much; not just with my education but for me as a person. I also won’t be able to go to my prom or senior field trip. I will also miss out on the tradition of attending my elementary school (Rueben Johnson) senior breakfast. Most importantly, I won’t have the opportunity to have a traditional high school graduation and walk across the stage like so many before me.

My female role-model is Oprah Winfrey. She is a leader and the first black woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show. Also, she became a billionaire which paved the way for so many other women to follow in her footsteps. She inspires others to dream big and make those dreams come true even if everyone said no. She is so positive and uses her influence to help others in any way she can because she wants people to be the best version of themselves. Oprah is also a great and professional businesswoman while also doing it in such a graceful manner that doesn’t backstab, beat down, or in any way hurt other people. Furthermore, she is transparent with her struggles and shows that she didn’t have a perfect life or doesn’t deal with insecurities. Even though she is one of the most powerful and influential people in the world she doesn’t forget where she came from. She has made so many others, including me, feel confident in who we are and inspires us to make a change and stand up for not just ourselves but others too.

I believe that adults and kids can learn that the health of people is the most important thing that truly matters. And any differences we have with each other should be put aside and we should pay attention and help out in any way we can. We should not just ignore the problem until it affects us, we shouldn’t let others suffer when we could be helping each other out. No one, no matter how old they are, the color of their skin, or where they are from, should be left to suffer alone. We are all just living people at our core. This shouldn’t just apply to an outbreak such as the Covid-19 pandemic, it should apply to anything; such as a natural disaster, pollution, or our community and others in need.

Empathize with 2020 graduates. Our senior year represents a milestone; the end to our childhood and the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. These are challenging times for us; whether we are going to college or straight into the workforce. We are in this together and we need to lift each other up.

Gabriella Paredes is a high school senior from McKinney High School who will be majoring in biology at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is also in the school’s cosmetology program and the National Honors Society. Gaby was born and raised in McKinney Texas and lives with my mom, dad, and younger brother. She likes to read, watch anime, travel, historical fashion, and listen to music from the 30’s to the 70’s, and anything Disney or Harry Potter related.

@gaby_starr