Hi, my name is Stefin, and I am 14 years old. Before moving to Monrovia when I was in third grade, I had previously lived in three other states including New York, Oklahoma and Arizona. When I first came to Monrovia, I did not know anyone but immediately made friends at school who are still my BFF’s today. I went to Mayflower Elementary; Clifton Middle School; and I am now a 9th grader at Monrovia High School where I really enjoy learning about history. When I lived in Oklahoma, I volunteered for a park, so naturally I wanted to help in Monrovia when I saw the amazing parks in our city. I became a volunteer at Canyon Park and helped out with feeding the animals and giving directions, but I have since gotten old enough to join the Trail Crew, which is an amazing group of volunteers. I have been a City Youth Commissioner since 6th grade and part of the school’s leadership program. I am an active member of Centre Stage and just finished playing Rodolpho in the Musical, Matilda. I love to ride my mountain bike and run in the Hillside Wilderness Preserve and am on the High School Mountain Bike and Cross-Country teams. Finally, I am a proud Scout with Monrovia Troop 66 and am working on my Eagle Scout project. I chose to renovate the Ranger Station at Canyon Park for my project because I have a deep connection with the park and the people who work there. Since there was so much damage recently, I thought that this could make a difference. If anyone is interested in donating or volunteering to help with my project, please let me know by emailing stefinbank08@gmail.com.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I share my home with my mom and dad and our four-legged pets; our dogs, Malee and Bobbie, and our cat, Cleo. We are getting a new cat tomorrow and I am very excited. I share my passion for volunteering with my mom and I learn how to use google and computers from my dad. Every once in a while my grandma comes to visit us and she runs with me in the hills. I hope I am as fit as she is when I am her age.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Right now, I am studying hard and look forward to going to college when I graduate. I am leaning towards something in the field of history or law and would like to work in a consulate in a different country someday. Or, maybe I will be a Psychologist. Not sure yet.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I am a vegetarian, so I love going to healthier restaurants. I really like the Something Healthy Cafe. I used to go to the Monrovian a lot because they had a good veggie burger.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I moved here in 2016 and it’s been great. It’s the first place that made me feel like I was at home.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
From the moment I set foot in Monrovia, I met one person in particular who changed my life for the better. That person is Eugene Zuk, the head ranger at Monrovia Canyon Park. He gave me the opportunity to volunteer at the park. He taught me all about the plants, animals and how to communicate with the public. He is so creative and will do anything to help make Monrovia better. He is unassuming, but is so important to our community. Eugene is the best.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I really want to travel a lot when I get older because I am interested in geography and culture. Right now I would love to go to Scotland. I kind of know all of the flags of the world by heart and would love to someday go everywhere.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I love Forest Gump because of all of the history references.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Keep pushing forward because you never know what the future holds and how you can succeed. Don’t be afraid to fail because it only means that you are learning something new to help you succeed.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
To travel and to play the part of Shakespeare in the musical Something Rotten. I also want to run a 4:30 mile. I am currently 30 sec from that goal..
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Queen. I learned about them after seeing the Freddie Mercury movie and have been listening to their music ever since.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The old Monrovian, because I used to go there all of the time. And, although it’s not a business, I think about Canyon Park all of the time before it was damaged by the fire and flood. I can’t wait until it can open again.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would choose Hugh Jackman. He can play a superhero, sing on Broadway, be a good dad and father and just seems like a great guy. I would take him for lunch at the Peach Cafe where we would eat the corn muffins.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Monrovia or something unique about our community that you like?
I love how you walk down the street and run into someone you know. I love the fairs and the festivals that my friends and I can hang out somewhere safe. And as you can guess, I love the parks.
Q: What is your greatest regret?
I am too young to have any regrets.
Q: Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Most people don’t know that I am double jointed.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Kanab, Utah. My mom and I went there to visit a friend who works at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. It was beautiful and quiet and only a few minutes from Zion National Park.
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting to be a Life Scout and working on my Eagle project.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Having the Best mom in the world.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My teachers because they push me to be my absolute best.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
My hand soap smells really, really good but I don’t know its name.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Mom, Dad and Monrovia.
