Few high school students can boast of a resume that reads like a list of professional associations. Even fewer can make that claim heading into their junior year as an officer in multiple such organizations.

Jeronimo “Mo” Lesmes is one such exceptional student, coming into this year as a member of four nationally recognized student organizations and the Wright City Student Council.

Lesmes is president and a founding member of Wright City’s branch of the Key Club student service organization, vice president of Wright City Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), vice president of communication for FBLA District 7, secretary of the student council, a member of the Future Health Professionals student group, and a member of National Honor Society.

Lesmes also helped launch an initiative last year called Operation Get Aware, which aims to raise in-school awareness for childhood trauma.

And all this is after Lesmes cut back on how many activities he was involved with during his sophomore year.

“I’ve cut down the number of things, but I’ve really heightened the work,” he commented.

Lesmes said he has struggled to find balance between the extremes of being totally uninvolved and completely overcommitted, but that taking an active role in his school community was one of the best decisions of his life.

“That really changed my life last year when I started joining all these clubs. I was in nine clubs last year — and I’m definitely not going to do that again this year — but I really found community in it. I also learned a lot of lessons about how I have to prioritize myself within that,” Lesmes said.

He continued by explaining that one of his main goals for all his current organizations, particularly the Key Club community service group, is to provide all students with a place where they are welcome and feel like a valuable member of a community.

“Even if they don’t have a good place at home, and whatever they’re going through, communities like that can really change your life.”

Q: What does being part of Key Club entail?
“We connect everyone in school to the community, so that students know where to come to volunteer. ... We focus on providing service to the community, and creating student leaders while providing that service.”

Q: What’s some of what you’re doing with FBLA?
“I just went to the National Leadership Conference for FBLA, and that was really amazing. I competed in Introduction to FBLA, which is a test about the organization’s history and its procedures.
“I also applied to be able to give a workshop. ... It was called ‘How to Build a Castle.’ It’s about how to use shared purpose in your clubs, and how having relationships is so important.”

Q: What are your plans after high school?
“My dream school is Cornell University. ... I wish I knew what I wanted to be when I grow up. ... Right now I’m between dermatology and psychology, and somewhere in there I want to find leadership opportunities. I know that I want something great for myself.”

Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite show: “American Horror Story,” or any show or movie by Ryan Murphy
Favorite song: “2 Be Love (I Am Ready)” by Lizzo
Favorite destination: Niagara Falls