Teen Globe Trotter

Jessica Ibri doesn’t have a hometown.

“Growing up I moved six times,” said the senior. “I was born in Boston, then we moved to Edina, Mexico, Chile, Switzerland, Mexico again, and now Minnetonka.“

Ibri moved to Minnetonka four years ago from Mexico City. She keeps in touch with some of her Mexican friends.

“I was surprised by how accepting the people can be and how passionate and proud they are of their culture,” said Ibri.  

Despite her ties to Mexico, she doesn’t have plans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5. 

“Cinco de Mayo is a huge thing in the U.S., but not so much in Mexico,” explained Ibri. “My favorite Mexican celebrations are their Independence Day and the Day of the Dead. I think those holidays are more significant and representative of the culture.”

As the daughter of an American mother and a French father, Ibri didn’t notice the international influence in her home life until other people pointed it out. 

“My dad would use some French words, like dodo for ‘bedtime’, but I never knew that was French until much later,” she said. “My dad also makes things like crepes a lot.”

Art and décor from all the places they’ve lived is displayed throughout the Ibri home. “These are gorgeous reminders of everything we’ve experienced,” she said.

Ibri credits her background for shaping who she is today. ”I picked up a knack for languages and a love of learning about different cultures,” she said.

Perhaps that’s why her favorite class at school is Comparative Politics. “The class compares the governments of six countries, politically, economically and socially,” said the honor student.  

Ibri encourages freshmen to get involved in activities and clubs. She participates in the French and Spanish clubs. 

“Challenge yourself,” she said. “I came into high school, having just moved from Mexico City, and I really didn’t know how much I could have challenged myself.”

When Ibri isn’t studying, she is probably swimming. She is on the varsity swim and dive team.

Her water skills will come in handy this summer as a lifeguard in California.  “Since I was eight or nine, we’ve been going to California each summer, where my mom is from,” said Ibri. “I participated in a junior lifeguard camp. It was like boot camp at the beach, and I loved it.” 

Ibri admits that lifeguarding at the ocean is much different than lifeguarding at lakes and pools.

“Most lifeguards in Minnesota never even experience a rescue, while ocean lifeguards make rescues probably every day,” she said. “The intensity is higher in California, but lifeguards in Minnesota can focus on their area very well, since they have less area and fewer people to watch.”

Ibri teaches swim lessons locally. “I like working with kids,” she said. “The first time I went to shadow for swim lessons, I thought to myself, ‘I can’t believe I’m getting paid for this!’”

Ibri also tutors Minneapolis elementary students through an organization called Backpack Tutoring. 

This fall, she is looking forward to starting college. She has been accepted to the University of Minnesota and is waiting to hear from other colleges. 

Ibri hopes to major in international relations and minor in French or Spanish. 

Her plans after college?

“I was always one of those kids who didn’t know what they wanted to be when they grew up,” said Ibri. “I guess that hasn’t changed.”  

She envisions herself working for the United Nations, volunteering in Africa, or “maybe just working an average job.”

In addition to college, this fall brings another exciting event: her first time voting in a presidential election. “With my late birthday, I barely made the cut,” she said. “But I’m glad I did.”