Fri, Dec 04, 2009

Tucson Region

Student of the week: Christian Alberto Oropeza

Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.19.2009
Valencia Middle School, eighth grade
Age: 14
Parents' names: Lisa Cota and Albert Oropeza
Favorite class: Math. "I like patterns and fractions and finding solutions to different problems," Christian said.
Activities in school: Basketball and track. "I'm better at basketball; I've been playing since I was, like, 6," the teen said.
Activities outside of school: Football, baseball and religious education. "Right now I'm in baseball and I go to church every Sunday and I was in catechism. Football just ended."
Whom would you have lunch with if you could have lunch with anyone? University of Arizona Wildcat basketball player Nic Wise. "He's not selfish; he's basically the team leader," Christian said.
What books are you reading now? Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events." He noted: "I'm on the seventh book."
Whom do you admire most? My parents. "They push me to do my best all the time," Christian said.
What's your favorite song? "Every Girl," by Lil Wayne.
Plans after high school: Go to college, play basketball, baseball and football for the University of Arizona or the University of Southern California. Christian also wants to get a degree in forensic science.
Dream job: Play professional sports — football or basketball.
Dream car: Ferrari.
Favorite place in Tucson: Tucson Mall.
Hidden talents: Christian is good with computers. "I can download music and all that," he said.
Vouch: Christian has been a straight-A student since first grade and is able to balance school, sports and social activities, his mother said. "He is a very intelligent and athletic young man," she said. "He is very involved in sports and takes great pride in his academics."
Lourdes Medrano