for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com april 25, 2013 • kids & education • The Queens Courier 59 ▶ kids & education BLAZING A TRAIL BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] Sponsored by 205-11 NORTHERN BLVD., BAYSIDE, NY (At The Clearview Expressway) 718-279-1800 Consumer Affairs Lic #0923677 FID#7071878 Photo Courtesy of Bruno Meira 205-11 NORTHERN BLVD., BAYSIDE, NY (At The Clearview Expressway) 718-279-1800 HOURS: Mon-Thurs 9-9, Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 11-4 Service: (718) 353-5666 Parts: (718) 353-4344 Trina Catterson Becoming the first junior at Aviation High School to become president of the student government and now aspiring to enter the fashion industry, Bruno Meira has shown that with hard work and determination, you can do anything your heart desires. Coming to New York from Salvador, Bahia in Brazil in the seventh grade, Meira had his first taste of student government when he helped form the very first of its kind at the Bell Academy in Bay Terrace. He was also part of the academy’s first graduating class. The moment he stepped into Aviation High School, the now 17 year old knew he wanted to make the best of his high school experience. Meira joined the Air Force JROTC program, the Mock Trial group, Peer Mediation, Teen Battle Chef, HealthCorps, cross country/track and other programs as well. “Since I first stepped into the building, I had a dream of making a difference in the student body and making my high school experience as memorable and enjoyable as possible,” he said. Meira’s passion for leadership took him as far as the New York State Council on Leadership and Student Activities, where he represented his district along with other student councils from across New York State. Even with taking aviation maintenance shop classes for four hours every day in addition to his regular academic classes, Meira has managed to “make things happen” at his school. He has been involved in setting up school dances, blood drives, fashion shows, international trips, pep rallies and even helped create “Captain Eagle,” the high school’s beloved mascot. Now as a senior, Meira has come to realize his true calling in life. “My junior year was extremely long and stressful; it made me realize that what I really wanted for my life was on a television or runway,” he said. Meira plans to earn his associate’s degree in communication design foundation and from there move on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in international trade and marketing for the Fashion Industries at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Even though he says he faces criticism for choosing an “artsy” career in a field predominantly ruled by women, Meira is aware of his competition and is ready to take the bull by the horns to make it in the fashion and advertising world. “I have to decided to bite the bullet and live for what I was born to do,” he said. “I know the future holds great things for me. I hope to someday come back to Aviation to share my life experiences and opportunities as a graduate from FIT to let students know it is possible to change your career path and restart from the beginning, if that is really what you love to do.”
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