Otero’s journey to graduate early was always her goal

Socorro High School’s Victoria “Jeanette” Otero is graduating a full year early. She has her sights set on earning a double major in criminal justice and psychology, with plans to become a lawyer.

If that doesn’t work out, Otero has a backup plan for becoming a therapist.

Anyone who knows Otero isn’t surprised the beautiful and bright student has made her plans with “outs” built in should her situation or choices begin to differ.

Most people would say Otero is the total package because she sings like a bird, and people notice when she lets her pipes loose when she sings the National Anthem at various events.

Otero’s journey to early graduation started with the common miseries of many preteens and middle schoolers. She moved to Socorro when she was eight, and being a bright new kid doesn’t always settle in well with other schoolchildren.

“When I got to Socorro, I was very different from everyone else, and I felt people didn’t treat me the nicest. The worst of it was totally in middle school. My math teacher told me that I had the possibility of graduating early if I started getting credit then, and I was like, oh my gosh, I’m so down for that.”

Now she’s 17 years old, Otero sees the world differently.

“Graduating early turned into something different because obviously, when you’re that age, you’re very anxious and emotional and hormones are everywhere. I realized no one was nice in middle school, so as I got older, it turned more into I wanted to start college early, and I wanted to start my life. I want to have an early start because life is such a beautiful thing, and instead of running from it, people should go for it. I want to show people that I’m from a small town and I’m awesome,” Otero said.

As Otero matured, so did her outlook on life and its tribulations.

“I’ve made many friends. I’ve made friends of all different ages. I think younger people tend to gravitate towards me because I’m naturally very nurturing. I want everyone to be happy and safe. I try and be that for people, be positive, and walk through life like maybe something sucks now, but it’s going to be great. The day is going to be great if you make it great,” Otero said. “Kindness is contagious, be kind because if you are, it’ll spread it’s inevitable.”

Otero has excelled in the classroom and has been active in sports, playing volleyball and wrestling. Sadly, a knee injury interrupted her volleyball season and, while she tried, prevented her from wrestling this season.

The injury couldn’t keep her spirits down as she cheered for her teammates on the sidelines, and she was front and center helping with match scoring at home wrestling meets. Otero credits her parents (Charity and Elvires Otero) and Socorro’s wrestling program for her ability to focus on having a positive attitude in life.

“Jeanette was our cheer captain as we’d like to call her. She was always hyping up the girls on the floor and as soon as she got going the whole bench and crowd would follow. I credit some of our wins to her, for being such a team player cheering so loudly,” Jaden Jones said. “Every practice, every game when she walked into the gym, she radiated light and positivity. Always trying to pick someone up for having a bad day. Even us as coaches, definitely going to miss having that. She’s easy to coach and stepped in any position in any way I needed her, and I truly appreciated that. She’s an outstanding human being with a very bright future.”

Otero’s outlook on life was instilled at home.

“My parents always told me, Jeanette, you can either sit there and be sad, or you can get up and choose to be happy despite what’s going on. Part of it also came from wrestling. Wrestling wore me down, but in a good way. You go out there on the mat, and you’re getting twisted up, and you’re losing. You’ve got to dig deep and find a way to win, and you find a way to enjoy it,” Otero said.

Watching true crime-type television shows is what sparked Otero’s interest in becoming an attorney and a sense of justice.

“I’m a huge True Crime buff. I see so many unjust cases where unfortunate things happen, and nothing gets done about it. No one says anything. I think it’s unfair. I think people deserve to be heard because that’s just who I am. Even as a little kid, my brother was really quiet, and I’m the youngest, but if people couldn’t hear him, I would speak for him so that he could be heard, and I think it’s something every human needs,” Otero said.

It was during a visit to Western University in Silver City for the Science Olympiad when Otero fell in love with the campus. When school counselor Frances Fuller told her that Western had an excellent psychology program, she was hooked.

While Otero was once one of the “new kids” on the block, her family history runs deep in Socorro, and she credits good genes as the source of her singing voice. Her great-grandfather George Aguilar’s voice was reported to have been amazing. Otero admits she’s thought about her great-grandfather while standing in front of people preparing to sing in church.

It’s one of those situations where she has learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and part of the reason is she has decided to take on the challenge of being in the upcoming Miss Teen New Mexico pageant. It’s something she recently thought about doing while prom dress shopping.

The woman who checked her out had lots of information about the pageant and encouraged her to take part. Otero has made the cut as a competitor and will be in the pageant in Las Cruces in June.

“I was thinking I’m not going because my thoughts were like I’ve never been in a pageant. I shouldn’t do this. It’s a huge pageant because if I went to Miss Teen New Mexico and won, I go into Miss Teen USA. If I somehow win Miss Teen USA, I go to Miss Teen Universe. What am I doing? I shouldn’t do this, but you know, go big or go home. If you lose, you lose. You get the experience, and you might make some friends,” Otero said.

Otero’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by Dean of Students Brittany Martinez.

“Jeanette has been a hard-working student who is very good with her time management and dedication toward achieving her goals. We are all very proud of her accomplishments,” Martinez said.