Sixteen-year-old Erika Porras is a self-motivated young Latina who is already a leader and is destined for a great future. She was recently named 3rd runner up at the 2013 Miss Connecticut Teen USA Pageant, and while a wonderful achievement, it is amazingly just one of the many accomplishments this young Latina has already achieved. Her strong work ethic has no doubt contributed to her success at such a young age. The wise Erika says, “A woman who serves is a woman who leads.”
The energetic teen is a high school junior, takes Advance Placement courses, keeps a 4.00 GPA at Bloomfield High School, and is also currently earning college credits at the University of Connecticut. Her future ambition is to attend the University of Pennsylvania and eventually be accepted into its Medical School so she can become a pediatrician. She considers education her #1 priority
Proud of her Latina heritage, she believes that with determination and hard work anything is possible. She lives by this motto from Eleanor Roosevelt every day: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of our dreams.”
Her extracurricular and volunteer activities are most impressive and would leave most of us exhausted. She is the vice president of Future Business Leaders of America and involved in many charity organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the American Kidney Foundation, the Side Out Foundation, Dig Pink and many more. In 2009, she was selected to travel to Japan to represent American teens. She considers that to have been a life-changing experience where she learned about global diversity and global cultural awareness.
Erika is a veteran of pageants, having competed in more than dozen and in 2010 she was crowned Miss Connecticut Jr. Teen for the National American Miss Organization. She says, “Pageants have helped me develop into the young woman I am today: confident and determined to chase my goals and dreams.” An accomplished dancer, she also plays volleyball and basketball.
Erika vows to continue to be a leader in her school and in the community and touching the lives of many. And her advice to all young Latinas: “Get involved and be proud to represent your culture and heritage with pride and honor.” At such a young age, Erika demonstrates there is no age barrier in “Taking The Lead.”
