One of our senior spotlights for this issue is Julie Ariza, who joined the RMA family after attending Insistuto Minerva in Celaya, Guanajuato. Julie originally lived in Celaya, a city in central Mexico, before she moved to the United States for her first year as an Eagle in ninth grade. She is bilingual, equally fluent in Spanish and English, a skill I know I am extremely envious of!

Julie has excelled at RMA both academically and artistically. In years past, she earned Excellence in Honors French II and III and Most Improvement in Algebra II. As a senior, Julie is again following an impressive class schedule with AP Psychology, French IV, Algebra III, Advanced English 12, and Ecology. Also notable are her artistic achievements. She has been recognized with an award for Excellence in Painting and Drawing, and she participated in the Memory Project last year. This year, Julie is continuing to expand her artistic abilities by taking Ceramics for her senior year. 

Also at RMA, Julie participates in Key Club, a club focusing on community service. Off RMA campus, Julie works at Ichiban as a waitress. Ichiban is a hibachi/sushi restaurant just right down the road from Rocky Mount Academy (I doubt many of our readers need this explanation). 

After high school, Julie hopes to pursue Business as a major and career. She has applied to ECU, NC State, Appalachian, Carolina, and UNC Charlotte as prospects to further her education. She has received acceptances from ECU, Appalachian State, and UNC Charlotte and has committed to East Carolina University. All of the Media Office crew has no doubt that Julie will excel in her future endeavors, and we cannot wait to cheer from the sidelines as she continues to grow. We are not the only ones who think this way, as close friend Lina Abukaff says that she has “high hopes for Julie in the future.” 

What is your favorite movie or go-to song? 

My favorite movie is Me Before You.

What is a talent of yours that we may not know about or something nobody knows about you? 

I know how to spay and neuter pets.

Where is your favorite place and why? 

My favorite place is Mexico because it makes me feel happy and also because my mom and friends are there.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would love to live in Paris!

What celebrity would you want to be for two days and why? 

I would like to be Mon Laferte because she is funny and because I love her songs.

What are your favorite school events? 

Homecoming and prom

What will you miss about RMA? 

The teachers

What is one piece of advice you’d give to an incoming freshman or to your younger self about high school? 

I would tell my younger self to work harder and to study more!

What are you looking forward to in college? 

Bettering myself