Meet Mia Garcia: Borrego Sun Youth Intern

How one Borrego Springs teen is using music, service, and storytelling to make a difference

Through the Borrego Sun Youth Internship Program, Mia Garcia is learning how to tell community stories while building confidence, communication skills, and real-world media experience.

Hear it from Mia herself:

Hello, my name is Mia Guadalupe Garcia. I am 14 years old and excited to be a Youth Intern with the Borrego Sun. Through this program, I hope to learn more about writing, interviewing people, marketing, and media while sharing stories about our community.

I live with my mom, dad, my 15-year-old sister Maria, and our chickens. My family is an important part of my life, and they have always encouraged me to use my imagination, work hard, and follow my dreams.

One of the things I love most about Borrego Springs is how people come together. Whether it is a holiday event, community gathering, or local fundraiser, it feels like everyone is part of one big family. Seeing people connect and support each other is something that makes Borrego Springs special to me.

I stay involved in several community activities. I participate in OLAX (Organizacion de Latinx de Borrego Springs), volunteer at Vacation Bible School as a youth counselor, and help at the food bank during the summer when the heat can be extremely hard for community members. I enjoy volunteering and helping wherever I can.

Music is a big part of my life. BAMA, the Borrego Academy of Music & Arts, feels like a second home and a second family. It gives me a place to express myself through music and develop my skills as a singer and musician. I have attended BAMA since it started and have been involved for two years.

Art is another creative outlet for me. Through classes with Karla Diaz, I have learned that creativity is about expressing feelings and ideas. She encourages students to believe in themselves and continue developing their talents.

My favorite class in school is Teen Health Science because it teaches important life skills. The class helps students prepare for adulthood by learning about health, responsibility, laws, and decision-making.

One of my favorite places in Borrego Springs is BAMA because of the support and encouragement I receive there. I also enjoy Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and would recommend it to visitors because of its scenery, educational exhibits, hiking opportunities, and connection to the desert environment.

As a Youth Intern, I hope to improve my interviewing, writing, spelling, pronunciation, and self-promotion skills. I would like to learn how writers tell stories that inform and inspire others. Writing may even become one of my future careers.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I look forward to sharing stories about Borrego Springs and learning more about media and journalism through the Borrego Sun Youth Internship Program.

A snapshot into Mia's life...

Follow-Up Questions with Mia

After Mia wrote her introduction, we asked her a few follow-up questions to learn more about her interests, goals, and connection to the Borrego Springs community.

Mia shared that her love for singing started with her family. Her mother inspired her to sing and practice, and her paternal grandfather, Guadalupe Lopez, was also a singer. Music has been part of her life for a long time, and it continues to shape her goals.

One of Mia’s favorite memories from BAMA was learning her first song, “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana. At first, she did not know the chords, but her guitar instructor Dennis Hunsinger worked with her again and again until she could play the song without looking at the strings. When she finally played it confidently, Dennis was surprised, excited, and proud.

When asked about volunteering, Mia said the most rewarding part is feeling useful and knowing she is helping make other people’s jobs easier. Through volunteering, she has learned that showing up and helping others can make a real difference.

What Mia Learned — Mentor Notes

As Mia’s mentor, I saw her practice several important first-week internship skills. She communicated about the assignment, shared what days and times worked best for her, used Google Drive to access and submit materials, and completed her work on time.

She also learned how to take her answers from a question list and turn them into a story with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. This helped her understand that writing is not just about answering questions, but organizing ideas so readers can follow the story.

Mia also practiced adding captions to images, choosing details that explain what the reader is seeing, and connecting photos to the story she is telling.

Next week Mia will share her coverage of OLAX's Taco & Loteria Night at the American Legion Post 853



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