KPTM FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |Midland Youth of the Year Has Reason to Cheer

Clark Young, Maureen Wurtz

 OMAHA (KTPM)- An Omaha teenager has overcome more obstacles than most of her peers.  For that, she's getting a prestigious recognition.

 Her courage is being recognized across the state, and maybe eventually, nationwide.

 When Westside High School Senior Jennifer Jiminez cheers, her voice is loud and clear.

She can yell out anything and be heard, but her life wasn't always that way.

 "When I was in school, I didn't know a lot of English.  So, a lot of the kids wouldn't really talk to me.  It was hard to talk to them, even say ‘hi, how are you,'" remembered Jennifer.

 As her squad takes small steps back at forth the cheer on the team, she knows that her journey to get to the gym was a little longer than that. 

The Spanish-speaking native was born in Mexico.  While she was seven, she moved to Los Angels and then to Omaha. 

The miles weren't the only obstacle her family faced. 

"For three months, we really didn't have a lot of food.  We had only cereal to eat," said Jennifer.

 Despite circumstance, she wears a contagious smile because she has someone to cheer for; herself.

"When I actually got up there and gave my speech, it was like something amazing.  It made me grow as a person," said Jennifer. 

She's talking about a speech that landed her as one of the contenders for the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year and the winner of the Midland Youth of the Year.

 "Hopefully, I got to nationals.  That's my goal right now.  My other goal is to graduate and go to the Art Institute of L.A," said Jennifer.

Each of these goals is at her fingertips, with some thanks going to the Boys & Girls Club. It offered her the opportunity to pursue her passion.  "They had art classes here, which is like my favorite subject!"

She's traveled 4,000 miles and found her voice; a voice that can't be silenced, sin importar que idioma (no matter what language).

 Jennifer will be competing for the State Youth of the Year at the end of March. The Boys & Girls Club Youth of the year is an award that offers a $10,000 scholarship.