20 Apr 2015 Maumelle High's Rebecca Aguilera has a passion for volunteering

by Brittany Gilbert
Mike Kemp photo

I’ve had the pleasure of teaching some incredible teenagers, and Rebecca Aguilera is most definitely one of them.

I met Rebecca her sophomore year in 2012. It was my first year at Maumelle High School, and I was taking the position of another Family and Consumer Science teacher who was moving on to another school and position. Rebecca had asked if she could meet me because I was going to be an advisor for the school organization, FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America).

I was impressed with her from day one. She’s a typical teenager in so many ways. Like most seniors in high school, she is ready to graduate. “I am just looking at the finish line. I have always loved school, but I’m determined to keep my grades up and finish out strong.”

While she may be a typical teenager, what sets her apart is the work ethic and passion she puts into everything she does. “Today, you are you, that is truer than true, there is no one alive that is youer than you,” Rebecca said, quoting her favorite line from a Dr. Seuss story.

Outside of school, Rebecca loves spending time with family. Her role model is her older sister, and her favorite possessions include her penguin collection, a special blanket and a picture of her dad and grandpa. On the weekends, she can also be found at The Summit Church. “I teach a Sunday school class of fourth-graders. I love getting to share and teach the word of God with these kids that I have taught since some of them were 3 or 4 years old! It is amazing to see how their walk with God grows, and I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”

Besides being an extraordinary teen and in addition to her incredible professionalism in meeting a new teacher, what really impressed me with Rebecca was her passion for helping others. “Volunteering is something I believe every high school student should experience,” she said. “There is truly no other better feeling than making someone’s day by such a simple act. Volunteering can change your life, just as it has for mine.”

Her focus is on being compassionate. She has been volunteering at a living center in Maumelle since she was in the seventh grade. “I don’t volunteer to write it on a resume or to get credit for a class. I volunteer because I enjoy seeing the smile of that elder’s face as they tell me the same story every day. I volunteer because I love just sitting outside on the swing looking at the sky and talking for an hour with someone who hasn’t had anyone to talk to in days.”

Besides volunteering in her free time, Rebecca is also very involved in school clubs and student organizations. She is currently involved in DECA, FCCLA, CSU, Beta, Interact Club and is an ambassador for Maumelle High School. Her proudest achievements allow her to connect with students from all over the state of Arkansas.  

Rebecca is also changing the world by tackling cyber bullying. What started as a project for the FCCLA and DECA student organizations, her program Better Safe Than Sorry is now going strong in its fourth year. “Better Safe Than Sorry is an interactive program that teaches students fourth through eighth grade about being safe on the internet and how to prevent cyber bullying.”

This program has also been a part of the local Build Communities Not Bullies for the past two years. “Over the past four years it has been presented more than 30 times to several schools around Central Arkansas. I believe that this program is essential for students before and even after they have been on social media. A lot of students don’t know exactly what they are doing on the Internet and could send out information that doesn’t need to be seen by others. My goal has always been to make sure students know what to post and what not to, also to teach parents that they need to be watching their students at all times on the Internet.”

Rebecca believes that cyber bullying is a problem that is overlooked by many. “Many students are victims of cyber bullying and are too scared to tell others.”

Rebecca admits that she has been a victim of cyber bullying and urges students to speak up and tell an adult such as a principal, counselor or parent. At the end of her program, Rebecca invites the students to sign a pledge to say that the school will work together to end cyber bullying.

While Rebecca is sad to see this program come to an end with her upcoming graduation, she is hoping to start a non-profit organization with the same focus as a college student. In the fall, Rebecca will be attending Berkeley College in New York on a full scholarship. She credits her involvement in DECA and position as a state officer as major factors of this reward.

Brittany Gilbert is a former FACS teacher at Maumelle High School. She and her husband, Levi, have two sons and live in Conway. Brittany can be reached at [email protected].