Clayton News Daily

While Forest Park High School Star Student Carla Garcia may seem calm and easy going, she is serious when it comes to the task at hand.

With ambition that matches her work ethic, she is well on her way to fulfilling her dreams of becoming a professional accountant.

Juggling a course load consisting of Advanced Placement psychology, language, statistics, U.S. history, human geography and biology, Garcia has maintained a 4.063 grade-point average.

On top of that, Garcia still manages to hold down a part-time job at a pizza restaurant, volunteer as a tutor at Lake City Elementary School, serve as the vice-president of her school's chapter of Future Business Leaders of America, and spend plenty of time on Facebook.

With a younger brother and three little sisters, Garcia has always felt the need to set a good example, she said.

"My parents, ever since I started, they would motivate me to do good," Garcia said. "I also felt since I was the oldest, it was my job to be a good example to my sisters, so that they would do good in school as well."

Garcia's involvement at school also includes memberships in the school's Cultural Diversity Club and Student Government Association, as well as participation with the school's Mock Trial Team. She is awaiting acceptance to the University of Georgia, where she hopes to major in accounting and minor in Italian.

Garcia describes herself as responsible, hard working, and someone who always gives her personal best.

"There's a time to play and there's a time to be serious," Garcia said. "You can still have fun, but you have to take your work seriously, because now is when it counts.