As senior Arielle Garcia enters her final year at Flour Bluff, she reflects on her long journey at the school, which began when she was in the first grade. Throughout the years, Arielle has made many memories and has grown through her involvement in extracurricular activities, especially her passion for twirling.
"I've attended Flour Bluff since I was in the 1st grade,” Garcia said. “My favorite part about attending Flour Bluff is being a feature twirler for the Band.”
Arielle’s dedication to twirling has led to some impressive accomplishments. Of all the memories from high school, she reflected on moving on to UIL State the most. These experiences have taught her the importance of perseverance.
“One of my most memorable moments from high school was advancing to UIL State as a baton twirler in both my junior and senior year,” Garcia said. “Being part of the band has helped me grow as a person by teaching me resilience and perseverance through the ups and downs of my 4 years as a baton twirler.”
Arielle’s first football game at the Alamodome as a freshman has become a core memory that she would happily revisit.
"If I could relive any moment from high school, I would go back to the first football game in the Alamodome as a freshman," Garcia said. "We had so much fun the entire day."
Arielle loves writing and creating stories. It’s something she’s always enjoyed and continues to pursue in her studies.
"My favorite subject is English because I enjoy writing and creating different stories," Garcia said.
Twirling has been a part of Arielle’s life since second grade. It didn’t take much to get her started and from then on, it became a big part of her life.
"I was looking for an after-school activity when I came across a flyer about a twirling program. I decided to give it a try and quickly fell in love with the sport," Garcia said. "Twirling has given me so much. It has helped me overcome adversity, allowed me to travel across the state, and, most importantly, introduced me to so many friends."
After graduation, Arielle plans to attend college to get her teaching degree. She hopes to become a first-grade teacher, following her passion for helping children.
"I plan to attend Del Mar College for 2 years and graduate from Texas A&M Corpus Christi with a teaching degree," Garcia said. "I really want to be a 1st grade teacher."
One piece of advice she would give to the underclassmen younger than her is to stay involved and never be afraid to put themselves out there.
"I would encourage underclassmen to enjoy every moment of high school and make as many memories as possible," Garcia said.
When describing her high school experience, Arielle uses three words:
"Challenging, Resilient, Memorable."
As Arielle prepares to take the next step in her journey, she looks back with gratitude and excitement for the future. Her time at Flour Bluff has been full of challenges, but it’s also been a time of growth and making unforgettable memories. She is ready to continue her passion for teaching and is thankful for all the experiences that have shaped her.