My name is Lydia Mercedes Lopez

Born in:Cicero, Illinois

Family heritage from (what part of Mexico): My dad and grandparents are from Monterrey.

What are you currently doing in life (school/work):  I'm workling at TJ Maxx, I been there about 2 1/2 years and Im attending JJC for my second year.

What do you want to do in life (career):  When I'm done with JJC, I plan on transferring to University of Illinois in Chicago and plan on getting my degree in Criminal Justice.

Why did you want to become a Candidate for Queen:  I would like to be more involved with the community and I like to help out the younger generation and mentor them in succeeding in life.


What is a role model to you: a role model to me is not someone who necessarily succeeded in life but someone who has goals and values.  Someone who respects themselves as well as others and never gives up on life no matter how hard it is or it'll get.

What advice would you give other youths who are troubled in life:  Life goes on and you will have to as well.  Learn from your mistakes and make yourself a better person.  No matter how hard life gets just never give up.  And the sky is no limit, you can go farther.

You can add anything else to your bio that you wish of others to know
about you.

I'm the middle child in the family and I have two other half brothers.  I'm a stronger person today because of my mom and family.  My mom had breast cancer and liver cancer and she beat them both.  It was a hard time for us, but no matter how hard it got my mom always had a good spirit, she never let the cancer get her down.  She fought back and survived.  This is why I'm a stronger person today.