![\"IMG_6492\"](\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_6492.jpg\")
<\/a>Today, Bugarin serves as the school\u2019s SCA president and is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. She is a fixture on the Salem stage, having performed in one-act plays as well as being named to the Virginia Beach All-District Chorus two years in a row. She\u2019s identified as a go-getter, a leader in the school, by all who know her.<\/p>\nSo, what caused this transformation? What triggered the reluctant young girl to go and take center stage?<\/p>\n
In a lot of ways, Bugarin said, it was Salem itself.<\/p>\n
She credits her chorus teacher, Anna Scully, with encouraging her to pursue her musical interests, where Bugarin found her passion in singing. It was her cousin who inspired her to try out for the school\u2019s executive council, where she found her niche.<\/p>\n
\u201cI fell in love with it,\u201d she said of the SCA. \u201cWe got to plan things for the school that made everyone happy. I was part of the voice for the students to be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
From there, Bugarin ascended to the presidency, where she finds her creativity soar.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just love hearing everyone\u2019s ideas that are different than mine,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2019Why didn\u2019t I think of that?\u2019 It helps me branch out to other ideas \u2013 not ideas that I think I would like, but ideas I think everyone in the school would like.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is a mature leadership style, and one that has caught the eye of Salem\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cBella is an excellent student leader and role model. She does an exceptional job of listening to all members of (SCA) and valuing their input when making decisions that impact the group,\u201d Salem Middle School Principal Jim Smith said. \u201cShe understands the importance of encouraging and motivating all members to participate in the decision-making process in order to come to consensus in determining which projects to implement. On a daily basis, you can count on Bella to exhibit the qualities of a superior student leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Bugarin wraps up her time in middle school, she is looking at the academies she wants to apply to – she has her eye on the performing arts academy at Salem High School \u2013 and is looking forward to starting her SCA journey over again at the high school level.<\/p>\n
Her reason to be involved – and stay involved – is simple: to help other students experience their own spark.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want everyone to have that moment that clicks for them: everything makes sense and I know what I want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before she leaves her time in Salem, and as she reflects on the shy, introverted elementary schooler she was, Bugarin has simple advice for those who may have a fear of the unknown.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they just have to be brave,\u201d Bugarin said. \u201cTake a risk. They have to believe in themselves. If they believe in themselves, they\u2019re set. Just go with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Q&A:<\/strong><\/p>\n Favorite TV show?<\/em> Glee<\/p>\n Favorite song to perform?<\/em> \u201cSay Something\u201d by Great Big World<\/p>\n Favorite subject?<\/em> Math<\/p>\n What are you most looking forward to in high school?<\/em> The freedom<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sitting across the desk from Bella Bugarin, she smiles brightly and speaks confidently. She is outgoing and easily shares some of the highlights of her time at Salem Middle School. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[24,65],"class_list":["post-2925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-compass-keepers","tag-salem-middle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2925"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2927,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2925\/revisions\/2927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}