Purdy’s Barrientos Takes Lead at FCCLA Regional Meeting
Purdy High School Junior Adriana Barrientos represents her district as FCCLA Chapter President and Region 11 Reporter in her second year as a Purdy Eagle.
Barrientos led a session on cyberbullying at the FCCLA Region 11 Leadership Workshop in Carthage on September 30.
Barrientos led a session on cyberbullying at the FCCLA Region 11 Leadership Workshop in Carthage on September 30.
October 6, 2021
Submitted content
Purdy High School Junior Adriana Barrientos represented her school district as a session leader at the September 30 FCCLA Region 11 Leadership Workshop in Carthage. Barrientos, who serves the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America as Region 11 Reporter, addressed her constituents on the dangers of cyberbullying.
Barrientos revealed, “Cyberbullying is a big problem, and it often goes unnoticed and unreported. I hope that my work with FCCLA will encourage students to seek adult help when they encounter cyberbullying and also give them confidence to reach out and help victims.”
Barrientos discovered her leadership voice and her own courage as a new student at Purdy during the 2020-2021 school year. A lifelong resident of Wheaton, Barrientos was nervous about starting a new school for her sophomore year.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “It was a hard adjustment. I’d been at Wheaton my whole life. The first few days at Purdy were hard. I wasn’t sure what to do. There were so many new people. I felt like an outcast.”
Barrientos found her footing in Ms. Amy Harkey’s first hour Family and Consumer Sciences class.
"Ms. Harkey made me feel at home at Purdy,” she said. “I got to know the students in her classroom, and that helped me adjust. When Ms. Harkey invited me to join FCCLA I was curious. I had never heard of it, but I decided to join to get the opportunity to be more involved and to get to know more people at my new school.”
Barrientos quickly found herself busy with FCCLA activities, including making 20 blankets for new babies born at Cox Monett Hospital.
“It was such a great project. People donate fabric, and Ms. Harkey’s fashion class helped us,” she explained. “We made some cute blankets! It was so rewarding to help the community, especially babies!”
As her first year as a Purdy Eagle neared its conclusion, Barrientos accepted an invitation from Harkey to serve as the FCCLA Region 11 reporter for the 2021-2022 school year.
“I am not a fan of public speaking, and I am nervous about meeting new people, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I knew it would help me overcome my shyness and fear of public speaking, so I said yes,” Barrientos said.
As a confident and courageous Barrientos prepared for her cyberbullying presentation, she credited Harkey with her success in finding a place for herself at Purdy and in FCCLA.
“Ms. Harkey has had such an impact on my life. There is no way I would’ve done something like this before I met her. She is an amazing teacher and a great person. She has been there for me since the start and has given me opportunities that no one else would’ve,” Barrientos said.
Harkey noted of her FCCLA Chapter President and Region 11 reporter, "It has been a pleasure to watch Adriana grow into a leader. When she came to Purdy, she was very unsure of herself, but I recognized there was a leader hiding inside. Not only has she been willing to step up and tackle any task that I have put before her, she always goes above and beyond what is asked. I am so proud of her overcoming her fears and growing.”
Submitted content
Purdy High School Junior Adriana Barrientos represented her school district as a session leader at the September 30 FCCLA Region 11 Leadership Workshop in Carthage. Barrientos, who serves the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America as Region 11 Reporter, addressed her constituents on the dangers of cyberbullying.
Barrientos revealed, “Cyberbullying is a big problem, and it often goes unnoticed and unreported. I hope that my work with FCCLA will encourage students to seek adult help when they encounter cyberbullying and also give them confidence to reach out and help victims.”
Barrientos discovered her leadership voice and her own courage as a new student at Purdy during the 2020-2021 school year. A lifelong resident of Wheaton, Barrientos was nervous about starting a new school for her sophomore year.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “It was a hard adjustment. I’d been at Wheaton my whole life. The first few days at Purdy were hard. I wasn’t sure what to do. There were so many new people. I felt like an outcast.”
Barrientos found her footing in Ms. Amy Harkey’s first hour Family and Consumer Sciences class.
"Ms. Harkey made me feel at home at Purdy,” she said. “I got to know the students in her classroom, and that helped me adjust. When Ms. Harkey invited me to join FCCLA I was curious. I had never heard of it, but I decided to join to get the opportunity to be more involved and to get to know more people at my new school.”
Barrientos quickly found herself busy with FCCLA activities, including making 20 blankets for new babies born at Cox Monett Hospital.
“It was such a great project. People donate fabric, and Ms. Harkey’s fashion class helped us,” she explained. “We made some cute blankets! It was so rewarding to help the community, especially babies!”
As her first year as a Purdy Eagle neared its conclusion, Barrientos accepted an invitation from Harkey to serve as the FCCLA Region 11 reporter for the 2021-2022 school year.
“I am not a fan of public speaking, and I am nervous about meeting new people, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I knew it would help me overcome my shyness and fear of public speaking, so I said yes,” Barrientos said.
As a confident and courageous Barrientos prepared for her cyberbullying presentation, she credited Harkey with her success in finding a place for herself at Purdy and in FCCLA.
“Ms. Harkey has had such an impact on my life. There is no way I would’ve done something like this before I met her. She is an amazing teacher and a great person. She has been there for me since the start and has given me opportunities that no one else would’ve,” Barrientos said.
Harkey noted of her FCCLA Chapter President and Region 11 reporter, "It has been a pleasure to watch Adriana grow into a leader. When she came to Purdy, she was very unsure of herself, but I recognized there was a leader hiding inside. Not only has she been willing to step up and tackle any task that I have put before her, she always goes above and beyond what is asked. I am so proud of her overcoming her fears and growing.”
