WCOM NEWS

5-30-04

Miramar teen learns the ropes politically

MIRAMAR--After four years as president of her high school class, Christina Mendoza can think of only one greater occupation: being the host of her own television show. While she'd settle for being a news anchor, this 18-year-old sets her goals high.

From her first taste of political victory as president of her fifth-grade class to her most recent Cooper City High School election, Mendoza has a love of competition and a flair for leadership.

"I've always been the kind of person who wants to get the job done," the Miramar resident said.

Well-practiced in fund-raisers and planning events, Mendoza has been elected president of her high school class four years in a row, the first Cooper City student in more than a decade to accomplish that feat, Principal Wendy Doll said.

"I love just knowing that you have the first say in everything that goes on with your class," Mendoza said. "I just really like being involved in school."

And she has been involved in many ways. She said in grade school they had to limit the number of electives students could choose because she just wanted to do everything. At Cooper City High, she has played varsity soccer and run for the varsity track team. She does the morning announcements and has recently become involved with a student TV program.

In fact, her only high school regret seems to be that she couldn't do more. Yearbook meets at the same time as student government and she had to choose between them.

But she isn't worried. She will have plenty of time for journalism at Florida Atlantic University, where she will study communications as part of the multimedia program this fall.

In the meantime, Mendoza has been busy raising money for her class, planning prom and Grad Night, and meeting with administrators over student issues. She says her class kept her in office because she worked hard to keep things running smoothly.

"I don't play around; I take it very seriously," she said.

Class sponsor Shayn Aycock said she admires Mendoza's commitment. Whether dealing with the administration or listening to her classmate's ideas, Aycock said Mendoza truly cares.

Having taught her leadership in class for two years, Aycock said Mendoza has both good leadership qualities and charisma.

"She is personable; she is organized; she has the respect of her peers. And most importantly, she is able to balance her extracurricular activities with a job and all the rest," she said.

Mendoza's abilities did not guarantee her success, however. She said sometimes officers would squabble, mostly over how much control each person should have. With every election she faced opposition, including one campaign against her best friend since kindergarten.

But with slogans like her race-car-themed "Stay on the right track. Vote Mendoza back," and the strategic use of M&Ms, necklaces, posters or even T-shirts, over the years Mendoza learned to exercise her creativity to sway voters.

And while her high school efforts all yielded victories, she said she learned the most from an eighth-grade campaign in which she ran for vice president and lost.

"The easy thing to do would have been to quit, but I realized it was something I really wanted to do. So I ran again in ninth. I didn't give up," she said. And she can't imagine what high school would have been like if she had given up.

"I couldn't see myself doing anything else. But I think if I hadn't won, I still would have been involved. I would have run for something else."

Mendoza said student government has helped her to become the person she is and taught her that one person can't do everything.

And while she says student government is a possibility in college, right now she is looking forward to a relaxing summer of lifeguarding by day and managing a TCBY yogurt shop by night. There's just too much she wants to do.

(source) Sun Sentinel (Meredith Polley) 5-30-04