Our Pocketful of Sunshine

Tristian Rivera, one of our Senior Students of the Quarter,

is a man of simple taste. He describes himself as, “Determined,

motivated, and inspirational,” with his idea of a perfect day

consisting of “the opportunity to help or lend a hand to

someone who is in need.” Tristian loves to “hang out with

my friends and have good, logical, and thoughtful conversations.”

When Tristian was younger, he dreamed big and imagined

himself as a pilot for the United States Air Force, flying an

A10 Warthog to protect his country. Tristian is no stranger

to the adrenaline and danger that an Air Force pilot might

face, he told us countless stories where he risked it all to

sneak wings from Buffalo Wild Wings into the movies.

Besides his many successful missions to sneak wings into

the movies, he is most proud of helping his father regain

consciousness after having a stroke. He accredits his quick

actions and nerve of steel in this emergency situation to the knowledge he gained in his CTE class, sports medicine. Tristian is full of stories where he goes out of his way to help others, including an emotional moment where he shared his food with a homeless man. Tristian knew this man needed the food he had, but he went even farther and bought him some water on a particularly hot day. The homeless was moved by Tristian’s selflessness and cried. Tristian admits he too left the man with tears in his eyes, but joy in his heart. He believes music is one of the greatest forms of art and enjoys listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He enjoys this group because their music always calms him and puts him in a relaxed mood. He would suggest that everyone listens to Californication, his favorite song by RHCP. As a child, Tristian remembers watching his favorite show, Zoboomafoo, on rainy days when he couldn’t go outside. Tristian wants to be remembered as someone who can make anyone’s day and to be the “person who made a gloomy day full of sun rays!” Thank you for brightening up the school and our lives, Tristian Rivera!