Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509080014
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TONYA WOOD| STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But her mother, Susan Waters, wants the world to know that she and her husband, Pat, have a "dream" daughter.
"Knock on wood," Waters said. "I don't even know where I got this child from. She's a superkid."
Perez has come from putting together children's puzzles at the age of 18 months to being named a Rotary Foundation Ambassador Scholar.
As the recipient of one of 1,100 scholarships awarded worldwide, Perez will receive $21,500 for round-trip transportation, tuition and fees, room, board, necessary educational supplies and possible language training. She will begin her school year at the end of January, aimed at earning a master's degree in political science at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
"I'm still a little in awe," Perez said. "A lot of responsibility comes along with this kind of scholarship."
That responsibility includes serving as a goodwill ambassador and representing the Roanoke Valley. She must give five speeches before Rotary clubs and districts, schools, civic organizations and other forums. Her speeches must promote life in Roanoke Valley.
She plans to center her speeches on economic development, focusing on the railroad industry and banking opportunities in the Roanoke Valley.
When she returns, she hopes the additional five speeches she must give detailing her experiences "down under" will promote cultural diversity.
Perez's experiences exceed those of most new college grads. She was a student at the Governor's School and graduated from William Fleming High School in 1991. She went on to Southern Seminary College in 1992 with 26 college credits and earned her associate's degree in political science in one year. She was valedictorian there.
In May she graduated with honors from Mary Baldwin College with a bachelor's degree in political science and international relations.
Perez was among the 1995 Who's Who of American College Students, and she was initiated into the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society in the spring.
While most students are buying pencils, notebooks, and new clothes to start the school year, Perez is getting a passport and preparing to be away from her family for an entire year with no visits.
"I guess I'm worried about my parents," she said. 'I'd feel really bad if something were to happen to them while I'm gone."
Her mother feels the same way.
"It seems so far away and for so long," Waters said. "At least, here I can get my hands on her."
Rotarian scholars had to choose their top five choices of schools and countries. Perez chose Oxford and Cambridge University of England, Dalhousie and Carlton University of Canada and of course the University of Melbourne in Australia. They completed interviews conducted by Rotarians in their districts.
The scholars are picked based on their intelligence, communication skills and an outgoing character, said Roanoke Rotarian Peter Ostaseski.
These are the same qualities that led Perez to Switzerland in 1989. She won a trip to spend two months with a family in Switzerland through the Youth for Understanding Program, sponsored by the Sara Lee Corp. Getting used to Swiss life took some doing, Perez said.
"At first it was like a honeymoon stage. It was very exciting and new."
But after a while her thoughts went to comparing things her adoptive Swiss family did to American standards.
"Sometimes, they may have worn the same clothes two days in a row. They just weren't hung up on wearing the latest fashions like people here are."
The summer trip was another way for Perez to gain even more independence.
"When Gina was little, her play was very adult," Waters said. "She would say things like: 'Do I need to go to the bank today?'. And, she would just be playing by herself."
Perez admits she's not afraid of hard work. In college she reported to her lifeguard job as early as 5:30 a.m., then went to class from 8 a.m. until about 4 p.m., after which it was right back to work at the pool until 8 p.m.
She is now in charge of hiring and monitoring lifeguards at 56 pools at a pool management company in Kingston, Md.
Though there were times when Waters was criticized for being "too hard" on her daughter, she's confident her method of raising Perez has definitely been the right way to go.
"We were strict parents," she said. "She couldn't have calls after 10 p.m., and when she cheered for a game, she had to be home by 12:30. But she's not on drugs, she worked herself well and she's very self-supporting."
With plans to study international relations at Georgetown University, Perez aspires to work with the Central Intelligence Agency.
"My parents always taught me if you want something done, don't be afraid to do it yourself," she said.
by CNB