HOBART | Working a part-time job, being involved with several clubs and getting good grades isn't enough for Hobart High School junior Edward Villarruel. He also represents the student body during School Board meetings.
Villarruel, 17, became the student representative this school year and says the job can be stressful, but he enjoys the leadership role.
"There's some pressure on you," Villarruel said. "It is also an honor at the same time."
Villarruel isn't allowed to vote during the meetings, but board members said they can use his opinion when making decisions about the school.
"I can see they're all giving me their attention," Villarruel said.
He said he listens to the concerns of students and teachers and tries to bring those concerns to the board members as a way to make the school better.
Villarruel also is trying to start a system where students can fill out suggestion cards, which he can then bring to the meetings.
Cynthia Lach, one of Villarruel's teachers, said she wasn't surprised when Villarruel became the student representative because he is self-motivated.
She said his involvement in school is astonishing, and she is impressed with the amount of work Villarruel can manage.
"He's handling it great," Lach said.
Lach said Villarruel serves as the business and advertising manager in her publications class, which creates the school's yearbook.
She said he became involved with the class after he signed up for an internship in his business class, and she enjoys having him in the class.
"I was lucky enough to get him," Lach said.
During the class, Villarruel finds area businesses to buy advertisements in the yearbook.
After Villarruel finishes high school, he plans on attending college to learn about the culinary arts. His goal is to become a chef and own his own restaurant.
Villarruel's mother, Elsa, said her son always has enjoyed cooking, and as a child he would watch television programs on cooking instead of cartoons.
She said she thinks her son enjoys cooking because he would watch his grandmother cook while he was growing up.
Villarruel enjoys cooking for his family, she said, and now she can't compete with her son in the kitchen.
"I can cook, but I can't cook like that," she said.
