Monsees wants to save the world

Julie Monsees is on a mission: to save the world.

The 18-year-old Lopez High School senior is ranked 12th in her class and will attend Texas A&M University in College Station in the fall to major in environmental science.

"I want to save the world, right now the environment is the most important thing," Monsees said of her top priority.

She fears that if immediate action is not taken to reduce global warming and the emission of carbon dioxide, the earth could be in serious trouble.

"It is the biggest issue we have right now," Monsees said. "And if we don't do something about it today, it won't get any better and we will just go in circles."

She is the daughter of Cuban Alfred Monsees Jr. and maintains a 3.79 grade-point-average.

But before saving the world, she admits an education is needed, adding she's been involved with the school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) and the school band, which have helped shape her, in intellect and spirit.

"First year I hated it," she said of JROTC. "I got into the physical training team and the color guard team and I began thinking, ‘Hey, I can actually do this.'"

So Monsees dedicated more time to JROTC, and then joined the band her sophomore year, where she played the oboe and bass clarinet. She describes marching season as "long and hard," however, the band's efforts paid out after earning eighth place in the state marching competition her sophomore year.

Lately, she spends her weekends studying, followed by hanging out with friends.

"Just have time to relax, hangout, chill," Monsees said of her favorite pastimes. "Recently, since the AP (Advanced Placement) exam is coming up, I've had to practice more for the exam. So that pretty much takes up my Saturday."

She's also president of the National Honor Society and taken part in numerous city clean-ups.

She also admits her father, Cuban, had everything to do with her upbringing.

"My dad a lot to do with my maturity level," she said. "After I got into high school, I believe ... what has happened-it has made me less selfish. It made me see that we have to take care of each other."

jborjon@brownsvilleherald.com