“If you can see me, you can be me.”
That inspirational refrain repeats again and again through the halls of Vista PEAK Preparatory. The students lucky enough to hear them can’t help but be inspired. It doesn’t hurt that they’re coming from the reigning Miss USA, Alma Cooper.
“She’s really inspiring,” said Melanie Cazares, an eighth grade student at Aurora West College Preparatory Academy. “She really encouraged me for my future.”
Cooper’s life is about breaking barriers. Inspired by her mother, a migrant worker from Mexico, and her father, an African American U.S. Army officer, she preaches how circumstances don’t have to define your future. By becoming the first active duty soldier to win Miss USA while also attending Stanford University in pursuit of a data science master’s degree, Cooper proves it.
“I know when I’m standing here right now, I’m speaking to the next generation of leaders,” Cooper, a U.S. Army second lieutenant, said before a packed auditorium of Aurora Public Schools students. “All of you in here are capable of something far beyond maybe what you’re even dreaming of.”
Bukunmi Adebayo is one of those future leaders. A junior at Vista PEAK Preparatory, she serves on her school’s student council. Similar to Cooper, Adebayo has a passion for STEM; specifically, she’s interested in pursuing computer science after high school. She says it’s a comfort not only to see Cooper paving the way in the STEM field but also using her fame and success to personally inspire other women of color.
“It makes me feel really good, especially knowing that she is an afro-latina person,” said Adebayo. “To see her in positions of female empowerment and reaching out to people, it’s really inspiring. And it inspires me to do the same in the future.”
In addition to the assembly, Adebayo and her student council cohorts participated in a special roundtable talk with Cooper. There they asked about everything from how it felt competing against the boys during basic training to tips for persevering through the inevitable tough times.
“I always try to have one hundred percent effort and a positive attitude,” Cooper explained. “Those two things will take you really far.”
The reigning Miss USA lives for speaking opportunities like this one. Her presentations are packed with memorable catchphrases, like, “It’s not about the role, it’s about the goal.” Coming from a different presenter, sayings like that could miss the mark. But according to Adebayo, who’s preparing for many challenges ahead, the wise words are perfect encouragement.
“For someone like her to tell us to pursue our passions, it gives me motivation,” said Adebayo, “especially because she’s achieved so much.”