Flowers covering the hallways from ceiling to floors, students dressed in traditional costumes and fun jerseys, and activities and music are being played at lunchtime. Hispanic culture is flowing through Highland, thanks to this year’s business sterling scholar Vanessa Vargas.
Vargas has always been passionate about business. While loving everything about business, she especially loves the social part of it.
Pat Archibeque, pastor of a nondenominational Christian Church called Love HQ, has known Vargas since she was 11 years old when she started attending the church. Archibeque has mentored Vargas spiritually through music, preaching, and also through ministering to others.
“Vanessa is definitely a character. She is funny, she is smart, she is committed.” Archibeque said. “Those characteristics are going to take her far in life. She loves God and she loves people.”
Making strong and positive social connections with people is one of Vargas’s strengths. At Highland, she has many friends, and she also prioritizes family.
Vargas lives in a house of eight with her extended family. She loves spending time with them, especially her niece and nephew.
“I just feel like family is very important to me, and I value that time with them,” Vargas said.
Vargas does many extracurricular activities and is not afraid to try new things. At the beginning of her senior year she joined the tennis team, even though she had never played before. She is able to make many strong relationships because of this skill.
While Vargas focuses on the importance of friendships and social connections, she prioritizes academics. As a member of the IB program at Highland, she feels very strongly the importance of school and learning. She is very good at balancing the fun parts of life with getting good grades.
Vargas participates in many extracurricular activities including Co-President of the Hispanics of Highland, Yearbook, piano, singing, boxing and is a worship leader. She maintains good grades while also participating in all these activities.
Just like starting a business, Vargas started a club called Latino Empowerment her sophomore year. In her junior year, her club combined with another club creating the Hispanics of Highland Club, which has created numerous cultural opportunities for Hispanics at Highland.
Vargas started her club because she felt there was not much diversity and Hispanic culture being celebrated at Highland.
“I wanted to create a space where people can celebrate their traditions, their heritage and feel included,” Vargas said.
In September, the Hispanics of Highland Club celebrated Hispanic Heritage month. They had a spirit week at the end of the month where students dressed up and showed off their culture.
They also participate in the multi-cultural assembly and do other various events throughout the year. The club is well-known at Highland and many students joined because they are proud of who they are and of their culture. Vargas believes that educating people about culture is the most important part of her club.
“I really love it (Hispanics of Highland Club) because I think it is important to celebrate culture and educate people about it,” Vargas said. “People aren’t always trying to exclude people of different cultures; they are just not educated.”
By starting this club, many students at Highland are more aware of diversity and of the different cultures around Highland. She believes that starting this club has made a difference, and she admitted that it will be hard to leave after graduation, although she is ready to try new things.
Vargas will be attending the University of Utah after graduation. She is planning on studying business for her bachelor’s degree. After that, she wants to continue pursuing business or go on to law school.
She is ready to start college and work towards an impactful career as she plans to work hard and stay focused on her goals.
“I’ve watched Vanessa learn to play the piano exceptionally, start multiple clubs and classes to help others grow. If she says she is going to do it, she always does,” Archibeque said.
Vargas is determined to help other people as she is growing up herself. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives, and help people reach their goals.
“I think my ambition will help me in the future,” Vargas said. “I don’t really take no for an answer.”