By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
As the third of five children, Jacob Barrios knows what it’s like to be “at the center of everything that happens.” But for many years, not too many people outside of his family knew him well.
“It wasn’t until the beginning of my junior year that I could really talk to people,” he said. “I got tired of being quiet and sitting in the back of class. I wanted to get to know more people.” So Barrios made a concentrated effort to stretch himself out of his comfort zone.
Today the Athens High School senior is president of the National Honor Society, was selected as student of the month in December, and gets along well with his classmates.
Currently ranked fifth in his class, Barrios will be attending Houston’s Rice University in the fall. In other words, he’s not sitting quietly at the back of the classroom anymore.
“I take my work seriously, but still like to help people and have fun,” said Barrios. “… Around my freshman year, I took a debate class and learned how interesting other things are that are going on in the world. It’s nice to know the good and the bad because it paints a bigger picture of what the world is like.”
Barrios’ view of the world expanded greatly a couple of years ago when he went on a trip organized by AHS art teacher Cynthia Kling. The group traveled to Spain, Italy, France and Monaco. “Every group of people is unique,” he said. “They seem happy.” The experience was so pivotal to Barrios that he plans to go on another European trip organized by Kling this summer.
That adventure should segue nicely with his entry into Rice, where he plans to study political science with an eye on law school. Right now, he has an interest in both corporate and constitutional law. If he studies constitutional law, he said, he can envision a future run for Congress.
“I was always amazed at the amount of varied knowledge Jacob processed,” said Janet Green, who taught Barrios in advanced placement U.S. history as well as coached him as a member of the UIL current events team. “He’s a quiet young man, but do not let that fool you. He has a burning desire to achieve bigger and better things after graduation, and I have no doubt he will.”
Barrios is the son of Antonio and Julie Barrios.