Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011 | 2 a.m.
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About 1,000 high school juniors and seniors attended the 55th annual Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum on Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, coming together with different interests, backgrounds and concerns. Here is a small sampling:
Josh Tolentino
Junior, Cheyenne High School
Clubs/activities: Key Club, Dance Club
Favorite book: “Cirque du Freak”
Favorite movie: “Fight Club”
Biggest Nevada concern: Water use
Biggest world concern: War
Plans: To become a professional dancer
How you want to be remembered at your high school reunion: As president of Key Club
Best part about living here: The Strip
Worst part: Pollution
Sound bite: “If it wasn’t for Key Club, I wouldn’t be dancing.”
Rebecca Chambers
Senior, Northwest Career and Technical Academy
Clubs/activities: National Honor Society, History Club
Favorite book: “The Lovely Bones”
Favorite movie: “Reservoir Dogs”
Biggest Nevada concern: Cuts in education funding
Biggest world concern: Protests in Egypt
Future plans: To go to UNLV to pursue a psychology degree
How you want to be remembered at your high school reunion: As the most changed person
Best part about living here: The heat
The worst part: The cold
Sound bite: “I’m very opposed to animal cruelty.”
Brandon Klock
Senior, Coronado High School
Clubs/activities: Henderson Police Explorer program
Favorite book: “Lone Survivor”
Favorite movie: “Black Hawk Down”
Biggest Nevada concern: Unemployment
Biggest world concern: War in Middle East
Future plans: To become a police officer and eventually a SWAT officer
How you want to be remembered at your high school reunion: Honest, respectful, friendly
Best part about living here: The concerts
Worst part: The weather
Sound bite: “I’m very supportive of the military and law enforcement. I’d do anything to help the soldiers.”
Amy Phommachit
Junior, Cimarron-Memorial High School
Clubs/activities: Volleyball
Favorite book: “Gulliver’s Travels”
Favorite movie: “Forrest Gump”
Biggest Nevada concern: Cuts in education funding
Biggest world concern: Human trafficking
Future plans: To go to community college for two years and then to a bigger school to study interior design.
How you want to be remembered at your high school reunion: For being outrageous
Best part about living here: The city never sleeps
Worst part: Not being 21
Sound bite: “I think it’s good to approach things with an open mind and never be scared.”
Anthony Ramirez
Senior, Rancho High School
Clubs/activities: French Club, volleyball, cross country
Favorite Book: “Tuesdays with Morrie”
Favorite Movie: “Due Date”
Biggest Nevada concern: Education
Biggest world concern: The economy
Future plans: To study chemical engineering
How you want to be remembered at your high school reunion: As the slacker who made it
Best part about living here: The Strip
Worst part: The Strip
Sound bite: “I’m motivated and determined.”
DJ Jevtinijevic
Senior, Coronado High School
Clubs/activities: Mixed martial arts
Favorite book: Dr. Seuss
Favorite movie: "The Fast and the Furious" series
Biggest Nevada concern: The texting and driving law
Future Plans: Open a mixed martial arts gym to help pay for school and study psychology or criminology
How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the funny guy
Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: There’s not much rain
Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: The summer heat
Sound bite: "I try to not take life too seriously. I play lots of instruments, including guitar, piano, upright bass and drums."
Christian Astorga
Senior, Canyon Springs High School
Clubs/Activities: Student Council, Key Club, Junior Classical League
Favorite Book: Steve Jobs’ biography
Favorite Movie: "Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift"
Biggest Nevada concern: Education budget cuts
Biggest world concern: Occupy Wall Street
Future Plans: Major in business, hopefully at the University of Southern California
How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the kid who sold T-shirts
Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: It’s one of the centers of the entertainment industry.
Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Not too much for kids to do
Sound bite: "I have a clothing line and through that I want to prove that kids can do anything."
Gabreella Friday
Senior, Advanced Technologies Academy
Clubs/Activities: Senior class vice president, tennis.
Favorite Book: "Night"
Favorite Movie: "The Dark Knight"
Biggest Nevada concern: School funding
Biggest world concern: The economy
Future Plans: I want to graduate from law school.
How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the funny kid.
Best part about living here: The people
Worst part: The people
Sound bite: “Tennis is my passion.”
Alyssa Zerkle
Senior, Moapa Valley High School
Clubs/Activities: Cheerleading, forensics, jazz band
Favorite Book: "The Princess Bride"
Favorite Movie: "Pride and Prejudice"
Biggest Nevada concern: Education budgets
Biggest world concern: The economy
Future Plans: Go to college, hopefully at Brigham Young University, to study nursing
How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As an outgoing girl who was really involved and helped people.
Best part about living here: I like the small-town feel of Moapa, but that Las Vegas is close
Worst part: Crime
Sound bite: “I’m conservative but I like to keep an open mind. I’m really into music.”
Diamond Thompson
Senior, Western High School
Clubs/Activities: Track and field
Favorite Book: "Twilight"
Favorite Movie: "The Butterfly Effect"
Biggest Nevada concern: Education and cuts to school activities
Biggest world concern: How foreign aid money is spent
Future Plans: I want to go to college, hopefully on a track scholarship, to study psychology.
How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: That I was energetic, athletic and full of school spirit.
Best part about living here: The summer, I love the heat
Worst part: There aren’t many activities for young people
Sound bite: "I’m self-motivated, I don’t rely on others to get stuff done."
Stephanie Taboada
Senior, Liberty High School
Clubs/Activities: AP classes
Favorite Book: "Watership Down"
Favorite Movie: "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
Biggest Nevada concern: The drinking age
Biggest world concern: The economy
Future Plans: To become a social worker
Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: It's fast-paced
Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: It's fast-paced
Sound bite: "I want to be a social worker because I’ve seen how hard it is for people. I want to help out as much as I can."
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