Youth Council member reflects on her activities in Miami Lakes

(Editor’s Note: Ariana Rejas is a member of the Town of Miami Lakes Youth Council. Her reflections of life in Miami Lakes are included in this essay submitted by the Town.)
My name is Ariana Rejas and I am 16 years old. I was born in Peru and am the daughter of two Peruvian immigrants as well.
I grew up watching my parents make sacrifices for the betterment of the family. My parents were surgeons in Peru and they gave that up to come to America for other opportunities.
My parents told me to focus on my studies while my Dad would deliver pizzas and newspapers. On his free time, he would study and my mom would baby-sit, clean houses and also study to become a nurse.
When they got jobs in Miami, we moved and hoped for something better. Growing up in New York, and then Miami, has impacted my life very much in positive ways such as discovering my love for music.
In my journey of learning and appreciating the arts, I was able to compete at Carnegie Hall and the Youth Prague Bohemian Festival with my orchestras.
Currently at the School for Advanced Studies, music has been one of my escapes from the stress of a busy schedule. Along with my passion for music, I have an immense love for the medical field and aspire to become a neurosurgeon in the future.
I’ve always had an interest in the human brain and how it functions. My studies mainly focus on finding the cure to brain cancer, hopefully in the near future. I’ve participated in Miami-Dade County Science Fairs multiple times and even won the General Surgeon Award.
I spend a lot of my weekends volunteering with the Town of Miami Lakes, the Youth Activities Task Force and at rehearsals for benefit concerts. I’ve spent most of my life living in Miami Lakes, going to school at Miami Lakes K-8 Center and graduating top of my class.
I was awarded top in music, science, Science Fair, math and the American Legion Award that hasn’t been awarded in over two decades.
I’ve made many memories with friends and classmates in Miami Lakes and I consider it another home and piece of my heart.
I think helping people is one of the best things that you can do and I always try to make myself available to help others when in need.
Begin a Latin immigrant and growing up surrounded by others of the same Latin American culture has taught me the meaning of family. It was taught me how to fight against the prejudice and ethnic racism, but more importantly, it was taught me to fight in what I believe in and for who I love.