As a freshman at Socorro High School, Daryana Herrera has been seizing new opportunities by exploring various career paths, participating in different sports, and developing her artistic talents, all of which are paving her way toward a successful future.
During seventh grade at Socorro Middle School, Daryana established herself as a talented artist, winning the Platinum Award at the 2023 regional Junior Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE) competition. This February, she continued to distinguish herself by earning the sweepstakes award in the cross-district Black History Month Art Contest with her painting titled "Cornrows.”
“I feel like, in a way, my art has made me try harder because I feel like I have had to push myself to do new things and try new things. I feel like it shows in my work,” Daryana said.
In recognition of her outstanding accomplishments, Daryana was selected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees regular meeting in February 2025.
When Daryana was a cheerleader at Campestre Elementary School, she cheered through the halls of the historic Socorro High School building and envisioned her future as a proud Bulldog.
Upon starting high school last year, she felt nervous but eager to embrace the different opportunities the school offered. She enrolled in the school’s Fire Tech Academy and joined basketball and volleyball.
However, her true passion lay in art. Encouraged by her art teacher, Abel Saucedo, she entered the Black History Month Art Contest, showcasing her talent alongside students from the Socorro, Ysleta, and Gadsden school districts.
For the third consecutive year, the SISD Fine Arts Department in collaboration with the Theta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi hosted the contest, which allowed elementary, middle school and high school students to showcase their artwork while learning about significant contributions that African Americans have made throughout history.
Daryana began researching African American history, specifically the history of Black hairstyles such as boxed braids and braided Bantu knots. She became fascinated with cornrows and how they symbolize heritage, community and strength in African culture.
“I decided to take a deeper look into cornrows and much came up,” Daryana remembered. There were so many documentaries and videos about cornrows, and I thought I could portray (what I learned) in my art.”
Daryana's award-winning painting showcased Black beauticians across three centuries: the 1800s, 1960s, and modern times. It highlighted their sacrifices, which paved the way for many Black women to become independent business owners.
In the background, Daryana included a written account of the history of cornrows, explaining how enslaved people once braided rice seeds into their hair. She also emphasized that the patterns in the hair could sometimes convey secret messages or maps.
Saucedo said Daryana’s use of bold colors, patterns and symbolism captured the essence of African American art and definitely supported this year’s Black History Month theme: "African Americans and Labor."
"We talked about not leaving the background empty, and so we kind of discussed, well, what are some of the things that you can do. And then she came up with the idea, 'Well, what if, you know, I wrote something.' And, I said, 'Yeah, that's a great idea,'" Saucedo said.
Joanna Herrera, Daryana’s mother, said she has seen her daughter thrive and develop into a responsible young adult who effectively balances her studies and extracurricular activities. She emphasized that the opportunities Daryana has received in art have helped her step out of her comfort zone and take advantage of new experiences.
“Through art, she has opened herself up to a lot more opportunities,” Joanna Herrera said. “She wants to do it all.”
In the meantime, Daryana is looking forward to excelling in high school. She hopes to make the varsity volleyball team and has decided to change her endorsement from fire technology to cosmetology, driven by her passion for hairstyling.
Additionally, Daryana plans to enhance her art skills with the support of her teachers. She intends to participate in more district competitions, viewing them as a valuable way to measure her artistic progress. This year, she earned a superior rating and received a regional medal in the VASE competition.
"I feel like I'm pretty lucky," Daryana said. "Because I feel like not just anyone could go into their school and see what's best for them. Well, I'm lucky that I can. I have that opportunity to go and see what would be best for me."