Youth Citizen of the Year

Student’s life a symphony of service

By Rob Cullivan

The Gresham Outlook, Mar 13, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Jim Clark / Gresham Outlook

Youth Citizen of the Year Klondy Canales leads a practice of the Reynolds High School Chamber Orchestra violinists on Thursday.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Klondy Canales just turned 18, officially making her an adult. But she’s been looking at the world through grown-up eyes for some time, and argues many of her peers are doing the same.

“They are not just waiting to be leaders of tomorrow, but the leaders of today,” she says.

A Seventh-day Adventist, Klondy promotes sexual abstinence, discourages gang involvement, mentors others and advocates for young people to have a voice in government. A driven community activist, she stands out in a world where teenagers are stereotyped as the problem, not the solution.

“Youths in general are looked down upon as rebellious and undisciplined individuals who have no opinions about the issues that are occurring in their communities,” she says. “As a teenager, I strongly disagree with this perception. I believe that youths have a voice on many issues, but are not given the chance to address them.”

Citizen of the Year

Klondy, a senior with a 4.0 grade-point average at Reynolds High School, walks her talk, which is why the East Metro Association of Realtors and the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce have named her Youth Citizen of the Year.

A brief summary of Klondy’s activities inside and outside school makes you wonder if she’s actually two, or maybe even three, people rolled into one.

She co-chairs the Multnomah Youth Commission, mentors a little girl through the Big Brother/Big Sister program, is a peer leader and drama troupe member – performing in both Spanish and English – with Northwest Family Services, and serves as student representative on the Reynolds School Board.

Among her proudest achievements with the Youth Commission is helping to promote a Youth Bill of Rights for Oregon in 2006, as well as a pilot program this year enabling students at three Portland high schools to get free TriMet passes.

“I love standing for people who need a voice,” she says. “Volunteering for me is more than just donating my time, it’s about the people that I touch and stand with and for.”

A violinist, Klondy serves as concertmistress for her school’s orchestra and plays for the Sunnyside Community Orchestra. She has belonged to the Reynolds flag team, has twice served as a class officer and leads freshmen students on tours of the school.

She’s not all work and no play, however. Klondy says she enjoys reading and likes listening to classical music.

“My favorite TV shows are ‘Eleventh Hour,’ ‘House,’ and ‘Bones,’ ” she says. “I’m really into the ‘sciency,’ medical type of shows.”

She admits, however, that she’s too busy for at least one diversion.

“I don’t have time for a boyfriend,” she says with a chuckle. “Applications are being accepted.”

Mother’s love

Klondy dreams of being a physician, has volunteered at area health facilities and credits her Honduran mother for inspiring her to achieve whatever she wants.

“She has constantly reminded me of making good choices,” Klondy says of her mother, Clondy M. Navarro.

A single parent, Navarro says she’s always encouraged her daughter to use her time productively, and is grateful Klondy has taken her advice to heart.

“She’s the daughter that so many parents would like to have,” Navarro said.

1 | 2 Next Page >>