Alumni Spotlight: Victoria Zumba, Bronze Award Holder
In our Alumni Spotlight series, we highlight outstanding Award Holders and share their experience. We hope to celebrate their accomplishments and inspire others in the Award family.
For our Winter 2024 Spotlight, we will hear from Victoria Zumba, a Bronze Award Holder from Newark, NJ. She completed the Bronze Level through our Award Center at Technology High School in Newark, and is currently working on the Silver Level.
Tell us a little about yourself!
The course of my study [at Technology High School] is computer networking, where I use commands to connect switches and PCs. The interesting hobbies that I have are crochet, piano, guitar and learning languages. I love guitar and piano because I love how the hands have an important role to play music that can help people to calm down or enjoy their days.
What were your activities and goals for your Award Level?
Voluntary Service: I helped take care of a baby. I like children and I know how hard it is for the parents to work and take care of their children and I was happy to be able to help others and have a little more freedom. The parents of babies also need a break because they are tired and need to relax too.
Skills: Crochet. I love crochet because when I was 7 years old, I remember my mom teaching me how to crochet my own little bag where I could put money. My goal was to create dresses for my Barbie because I remember my mom knitting warm clothes for my dad and I wanted to do the same but for my Barbie so my sister could play with it or just a reminder that I did my best and I could accomplish it.
Physical Recreation: Volleyball. I love volleyball and my goal was to be able to be part of each section as a setter, or libero. I wanted to increase my reaction time and my movements so that’s why I went to run or repeat the same things again and again to make my body react faster.
Adventurous Journey: It was a nice [Adventurous Journey] where I learned how to create fire using wood. Also, I learned how the Native Americans used trees to create things that were waterproof. Also, [I learned that] some trees are poisonous.
What did you learn about yourself through the Award?
From this Award, I learned that if I want to do something and if I put my heart into it, I can complete it. Also, even if I don’t have time, I [can] arrange or make changes to be able to do something and be responsible.
Would you recommend the Award to others? If so, why?
I would recommend others to take some time to do something that makes them feel relaxed, no matter how busy they are. This [will] help them concentrate more and it [will] allow them to think and avoid making mistakes. Also to create a plan daily to make sure they don’t overwhelm themselves.
Do you have any tips or advice to share with Award Participants and Alumni?
My advice for participants is to create a plan or have a list to do so they can be organized and they don’t get stressed. Also, if they feel overwhelmed, stop, take a break, and remember that [it] can be finished later and it doesn’t have to be completed right away.