Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Justin Hunter
Lucero Aguilar-Lopez, a remarkably bright seventh-grade student at Lupton Junior High School, recently secured second place in the Walker County District Spelling Bee. Her success in the competition is a testament to her dedication to academics and her exceptional linguistic abilities.
“I really enjoy reading, which is one of the reasons I entered the spelling bee. During the spelling bee, I enjoyed that feeling of not necessarily pressure, but the excitement and the rush that I felt when I was up there spelling out the words,” says Lucero. “My mom and dad helped me a lot to practice the words for the spelling bee, and they always supported me. They always want me to do my best, not just in the spelling bee, but for all my academic results.”
She credits her bilingual abilities with helping her better study for the spelling bee and understand the roots of different words, especially Latin words. Another helpful study method was memorization. Lucero would memorize the words by spelling them out on her fingers, a method she uses daily.
Lucero also credits good friends and influences for her academic prowess. She is a member of the Beta Club, and in last year’s exam, she placed first in the state and ninth nationally for sixth-grade Spanish. She also helps the library aid each Friday with cleaning and organizing the library and preparing activities for the school’s younger students.
“I try to get good grades because I know it benefits me now and in the future. My parents’ encouragement makes that easier because they have always been like that for me since I was little. It comes easy for me to remember things and know how things work, and I know a lot of kids struggle with that. So, I’m grateful for everyone in my life who’s been able to make that happen for me,” says Lucero.
In the future, Lucero plans to become a translator and pursue a career in nursing. Her present goal is to look toward the future and start setting herself up for success now. In helping around the school and working hard academically, Lucero’s journey to academic success is already well underway! WL
