A Role Model In The Making
Hi, my name is Zoe Valdez, I am 17 years old, and I love pizza, KPOP music, taco Tuesdays and my friends say I am loony.
I’m a little silly and giddy cause I see the light in things that some might take too seriously, at least that’s how I see myself.
I am an average teenager. I still dance and lip sync while holding a hairbrush like a microphone in front of my mirror, I’m cooky like that.
I love to travel, it’s the adventure I crave. It’s the emotions that stir up right before my trip like the anticipation, nervousness, fear and exhilaration of not knowing what to expect in my journey and what happens at the end point of the ride.
Everything I’ve accomplished in my life so far is preparation for something bigger in the next chapter of my life story.
September 2024, which I consider the biggest new chapter thus far in my life, and I just started writing it. I am leaving to study abroad for my high school senior year in Italy for 10 months away from my family, friends and everything that feels so comfortable.
Feeling scared and nervous does not even begin to describe how I feel but at the same time it’s the feeling of freedom, the world seems so much bigger, with so much to see and I must explore it to see where it leads me.
I was one of the female founding members to join scouts when The Boy Scouts of America decided to allow girls join in 2019.
Why? Maybe it was the challenge, or I just wanted to ruffle some feathers for girls like me that didn’t want to sell cookies, and wear skirts, I wanted the thrill of climbing mountains, camping in the wilderness and white-water rafting.
I Recruited and Mentored over 40 young ladies, ages 10 to 15 years old in scouts, from Safety, Survival Skills, Leadership and Communication skills. We did it all.
I wanted to show my peers and young girls that if there is an opportunity to be a trailblazer, take it. Take a chance, get over your fear and if it’s not the right fit, you move on to the next adventure, but you try and give it all you have got.
We were not welcomed by the boys in scouts at the beginning, the boys would whisper behind our backs, say things about us under their breath, stare at us like we were trying to be boys, or that we just didn’t belong.
This did not stop us, we pushed forward.
I was one of the youngest females in the world and first Hispanic female in North Carolina to earn Eagle Scout rank, raising over $20,000.00 and built an Education Pavilion for 250 students to study at Walnut Grove Christian School.
I was told my project was too big and I was too young to earn the Eagle Scout, I shielded my heart and mind from doubt.
Still don’t understand why they would try to discourage me, it felt like they were working against me. At least it felt like that.
During the COVID pandemic I saw the elementary students having a difficult time learning, each class was taking turn studying outdoors and there was no shade from the sun, teachers were doing their best to make elementary students comfortable, but it was a struggle to teach.
I decided to build an education pavilion so students of all grades could use it for shelter and protect them from the outdoor elements. I raised over $20,000.00 and recruited businesses to volunteer to help me build it.
When my scout leaders said it couldn’t be done, I did it and showed all the girls in my troop that you must be unstoppable, I’m not going to lie, I wanted to quit before I even got started.
I wanted to give up, but all the younger girls were cheering me on, they wanted me to succeed. How would they see me if I gave up and quit?
Most important How could I look myself in the mirror, how could I see myself?
I built it and today it’s being used by over 250 students, the new students may not know me but there will be few that will remember a student named Zoe Valdez built this for us.
I wanted to leave a legacy in scouts to serve, so we hosted food drives, I created a Girl Empowerment Weekend, gathered my scout troops to clean communities and parks. My one goal for my troops was to be Service Oriented, to Give Back to The Communities and Help Those in Need.
June 23rd, 2023, I was invited as a North Carolina Delegate for The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, met Stephen Ray Mitchell M.D., Dean for Medical Education of Georgetown University, Nancy Brown M.D. Dean of Yale School of Medicine, Noble Prize laureate in Physiology Michael Rosbash, Ph.D., Teenage Inventor Gitanjali Rao 2020 TIME Top Young Innovator and More…
Why is this important to know? My goal in life is to be a Physician for children, Pediatrician, Psychologist or a Physician Assistant. I don’t know where my journey will lead me, but my focus will always be caring for children.
I volunteer at our Church for children whether it be packing up 1500 Backpacks for Back to School, 900 After School Snack Packs, Weekend Food bags for under privilege elementary kids or over one thousand Christmas Toy Boxes for kids at Samaritan Purse Warehouse in Charlotte, NC.
Again, my heart has always been for children.
I’m in competition dance here in Charlotte, North Carolina and travel lots with my dance team Fuzion Force doing choreography in Hip Hop to Ballet.
I love being on stage and dancing together, I practice at least an hour a day but go to classes twice a week. I love practicing my routines, I just feel free and have fun learning new dances.
What I learned about being on my dance team is commitment, showing up when you’re tired, sick or just don’t want to go. When you are part of the team, you must show up.
Spent three weeks in Seoul, South Korea for an Immersion Summer Camp studying Artist Development, Music Production, Dance Choreography and Music Business. Can you imagine being 14 years old and experiencing this great opportunity?
I was able to learn choreography and dance with choreographers for KPOP Groups BTS and Twice. Spent the day with Chief Editor of Korean Billboard Magazine and met Artist and KPOP Multiplatinum Producer Tiger JK.
I traveled and camped 22 cities in 23 days, touring seven national parks with seventy-nine other students touring the American West, learning the history and landmarks of cities like New Orleans, LA, San Antonio, TX, Las Vegas, NV, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, Salt Lake City, UT and visiting seven national parks including Yosemite National Park, Yellow Stone, and the Grand Canyon.
This was the trip of a lifetime, learning to be Independent, Resourceful, Respectful and Resilient.
You also learn a bus can really smell after four days of traveling a thousand miles on the road.
Swam in the waters of over 11 Caribbean Islands, spent a Summer and surfed in Puerto Rico, recorded my first song with a multi-platinum music producer in Los Angeles.
What I learned about my travels and recording music is that when you want to do something, you take action. My Mother and Father always taught me, if you have an opportunity, Take It.
I will be leaving my parents and friends this Fall for ten months. Everything that I know, my comfort zone, safety net, my routine and my peace here at home with my family is about to be put on pause.
I will be finishing my High School Senior Year in ITALY Fall 2024/2025. Immersed 100% in the culture, language and living with a host family. Ten months, can you believe it?
I have never been away from my Family for this long, I’m not going to lie, I’m scared, nervous, even writing this my eyes water up because everything I know will be 4,553 miles away.
The same question comes up, Why Did I Choose To Travel Abroad, So Far and for So Long?
My answer is because It Was Possible, It’s Different, It’s an Experience Most Won’t Do, and every time I travel, I become a better me, a different person, a wiser person, and I always find out something new about me.
I Create a Bigger Belief About Myself.
When you read this, I will be in Italy creating a new chapter in my life story. I hope you follow my journey; I believe it’s going to be a great one.
Let’s live it together.
Sincerely,
Zoe Valdez
