Xitlalic Canchola, a top athlete for the EC cross-country team and student with a GPA over 3.0 has had a lot to juggle. During her year and a half at EC, the 19-year-old sociology major has balanced work, athletics, and school work in addition to competing in beauty pageants on her free time.

Canchola is the current Miss Teen California winner at the Beauties of the Nation Pageant which takes place every summer. Canchola said that she has been modeling since she was 16.

“People think you win a crown and you get to do whatever you want but no, you devote yourself throughout the year,” Canchola said. “I’ve worked with a lot of foundations. I love helping people and I think that’s why I chose Sociology as my major.”

Beauties of the Nation pageants have taken place since 2011 and they emphasize charity work. Canchola said she’s volunteered at various locations including St. Jude’s Children Hospital.

“I play with the little kids (at the hospital),” Canchola said. “The Ronald McDonald house is a block away and usually the parents are staying at the hospital with their kids. We cook food for them since they’re not able to go home and they have their living quarters there.”

A month’s long preparation takes place before the beauty pageant. Categories of competition include talent, introduction and on-stage questions. Canchola’s talent in the competition is Tahitian dancing which she says she does as part-time work too.

“I’ve been doing that since I was 6 years old,” Canchola said. “It’s like hula but with faster movements. A lot of people don’t do that so that’s why I decided to do it.”

Canchola has also competed on the EC cross country team for the past two semesters.

“She’s a nice girl and always seems to be in a good mood.” cross-country coach Dean Lofgren said. “Canchola’s done well considering everything that she’s juggling. She’s a unique girl in that respect.”

Canchola is also one of EC’s top cross-country runners said teammate Kris Aguilar and it can be attributed to her competitive nature. It’s even caused her to lose her temper at times. At a cross country meet in Golden West College, Canchola hurt her ankle and walked off the race, Aguilar said.

“We talked to her when she was so mad at herself. (She said,) ‘I should’ve stuck in there. I should’ve been tough.’ As an athlete, it’s annoying when that happens to you and (everybody) tells you it’s not that bad,” Aguilar said. “She said ‘I’m sorry Kris I didn’t mean to snap at you obviously I was just mad.’ She was very admirable.”

Aside from running, Canchola has experience in swimming. Her athletic lifestyle has not affected her studies as she recently won a Scholar Baller award which is rewarded to athletes with a 3.0 GPA and higher.

“There were definitely times it was tough for her, but college is tough so overall we had only a few bumps where she had to miss practice,” cross country assistant coach Sean Sheil said. “I would have to say the commute is the hardest part to adapt to when you live so close to your high school (like Canchola does). She’s never had eligibility issues so she’s handled (schoolwork) pretty well.”

Canchola is a sociology major and plans to transfer to Cal State Los Angeles or California State Polytechnic University. Her dream is to become a social worker.

“I got the idea because some girls in the pageants were already getting their master degrees,” Canchola said.”They gave me ideas of what I could do and they explained to me why I should do it. They have similar majors like mine so it made sense for me to (become) a social worker. I like helping people.”