CLUB GIVES KUDOS TO "MEXICAN OPRAH"
By Angela Holman for Today's Local News

Nicknamed the "Mexican Oprah" by her friends, 16-year-old Aurora Jimenez is the kind of person everyone goes to for advice.

Aurora has been a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad's Village Branch for nine years. She was selected recently as the branch's 2006 Youth of the Year.

"Even at her age, she's very professional, just like Oprah is. She can be very funny, but she lets you know what she things about something, but in a way that doesn't offend anybody," said Aurora's mom, Pam. "All of her friends come to her with their problems."

Pam said she values Aurora's opinion. When Pam was looking for a new job, she asked Aurora which one she should take. Aurora responded by asking her what benefits come with each and how far of a drive both are from their south Oceanside home. "I like giving advice. I guess it's a hobby," Aurora said. "I like listening a lot to what people have to say and I'm very opinionated."

Aurora is a junior at Oceanside High School. She maintains a 3.83 grade point average, is a member of the National Honor Society and works 32 hours a week between two jobs. But she is not too busy to help her family. Aurora makes sure her two sisters get to school on time and tries to resolve their fights. Her father has been ill and unable to work for four months, so Aurora gives her parents money to help pay for rent, groceries and other bills. "I like giving mroe than receiving," Aurora said. "I guess I was raised well."

Aurora also gives to the community. She is vice president of the Village Branch's Keystone Club, which is a group of teens who do community service such as feeding the homeless and spending time with seniors in nursing homes.

Jack Nguyen, unit director of the Village Branch, said Aurora would always volunteer to help out around the club and was doing such a great job that about a month ago, he hired her. "She's a big sister to a lot of the members here," he said. "She really is what the club is all about: being an exemplary teen." Nguyen said Aurora thinks about others before herself and sometimes he forgets her age because she acts so mature. "I've never seen a teenager with so much inspiration, who is so driven. She's a dreamer with a lot of motivation. She gets results," he said.

Aurora plans to go to college to become a host of an entertainment news program like "Entertainment Tonight." She said the $1,000 scholarship she received for being named Youth of the Year will get her started. "I want to be successful. I see my parents struggle all the time. I don't want to struggle like that when I get older," Aurora said. "I know my dad would brag to everyone if I graduated college."

Ron Sipiora, chief professional officer of the club, said Aurora was chosen to be the branch's Youth of the Year because she 'stood out above and beyond everybody else." She also was selected to be the overall Youth of the Year out of the club's two Carlsbad branches.

Aurora will go on to compete for the title of San Diego County Youth of the Year. If she wins the county honor, she would compete for the state title, followed by the regional title and then the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Youth of the Year title.

"I think she will go really far in life," said club member Tara Whitley, 16. "She seems really motivated. A lot of us are just hanging out now, but she knows what she wants to do."