Redhawk of the Week: Mia Jimenez

Julie Park, [email protected]

 

Possessing the dedication it takes for the role, senior Mia Jimenez recently earned one of the positions for Snowballs four teen directors along with Central’s seniors Ronnie Miller and Chris DiPrima and Paige Carlson, a senior from Neuqua Valley High School. The teen directors create plans for the Snowball weekend such as choosing the theme, the staff members, and activities.

Jimenez described the application as a quick process.

“The applications were due [Nov. 30th] and interviews were [Dec. 2] and then [the adult directors] did the calls that night,” she said. “[The adult directors] ask you if you understand the responsibilities, and why you would think you would make a good leader.”

Every Wednesday until April, teen directors have training where they learn different facilitation skills. They practice lighter games, such as those that break the ice, then move on to activities to help initiate deeper conversations.

Jimenez emphasizes the importance of working in groups.

“You can just learn things from other people, and half the staff is adults, so it’s really awesome if you make those adult role models and friends who can give you so much help.” she said.

With minimal knowledge of Snowball, Jimenez decided to give it a try in the spring of her sophomore year.

“I just fell in love with it because I couldn’t believe there was a program where you could go and share anything you wanted and people would listen to you. Everyone is treated with respect, and everyone lets their guard down.” she said.

After her captivating first experience, Jimenez decided she could try out for staff.

“I made it junior year, and it was so much fun, and I love surrounding myself with positive people who have the same values that I do.” she said.

Values are also crucial for becoming teen directors as they are expected to be clean since their last Snowball. Part of the code of conduct is abstaining from attending parties that include drugs or alcohol.

Planning on a future in the fashion industry, Jimenez finds that Snowball has helped her become more conversational.

“I went to New York and I made so many connections because I was just talking to people next to me who were interested in the same things as me, so I made a lot of cool friends that I probably wouldn’t have if I wasn’t comfortable talking to people.” Jimenez said.

In addition to being vocal, she believes that honesty is essential for a leadership position. When she first became a staff member her junior year, the nerves kicked in as she feared the judgement from her peers, especially from the older seniors she was leading.

“As soon as I let that go, I thought, ‘You know what, I’m going to be myself, and I’m here for a reason’,” she said. “So I think being honest or open even if you think you’re being a dork, just go for it, and [people] will respect you for your honesty.”

Her favorite part of Snowball is the dance party, and the favorite memory, which was incredibly difficult to choose, was at her first Snowball during an activity called “Silent Closing” done on the Sunday before everyone goes to their small groups to pack their suitcases.

“It’s where you don’t talk, you just get to look every single person in the eyes,” she said. “And there was a girl who had shared something the night before, but she shared it in front of everyone during the large group, and I went up to her afterwards like ‘Is that true? You just told everyone something so secretive’. And she was like ‘Yeah I felt comfortable’. And that got me to share something in my small group, and when we finally got to each other in Silent Closing, I just broke down crying and so did she.” said Jimenez. “Just these fast connections with people, I met her two days ago, and just loved how she impacted me.”

Jimenez strongly emphasizes that stereotypes about Snowball are not always true.

“You don’t have to have problems to come to Snowball and you don’t have to cry. It’s just nice to be around other people who are honest, and I really thinks it’s for everyone.” she said.

She encourages and welcomes people to come to the next spring Snowball scheduled for the weekends of April 8-10 and April 22-24.