Juan Rangel is an eighth-grader who likes talking about budgets.
That's a good sign, because Juan would like to pursue a career in politics someday. He's considering service as a United States or state senator, but he figures he'll start out on city council and work his way up.
"That's what I was thinking of doing to learn," he said.
Juan's writing skills are what landed him in political circles recently, fueling his plans for the future.
The Kerman Middle School student became a state finalist in the "Imagine this ... " story-writing contest through the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.
That won him trips to the council and school board for special recognition.
During the City Council trip, Juan told Kerman's mayor he'd like to be sitting up at the council table in the future, said Nancy Gragnani, a Kerman Middle School resource specialist.
"He wants to give back to his community," she said. "I think we will see him someday up there."
Juan said he's been proud to serve on his school's council, which has allowed him to get involved in budget issues and problem-solving. He's also enjoyed getting to learn about leadership and management by serving as California Junior Scholarship Federation president at his school.
Gragnani called Juan a hardworking student who cares about helping others.
"He's just a silent leader on campus," she said. "If you need something done, you go to Juan."
-- Christina Vance
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