TEENS CREATE BRIGHT IMAGES OF OWN FUTURE : CLUB MEMBERS LEARN RESPECT FOR SELVES, OTHERS, COMMUNITY.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Danny Navarro goes there to talk. Melanie Semon wants to help her community. Richard Cardenas learned about it from his girlfriend, and he's hooked.

The members of Future Images say their club is like no other at Valencia High School: a place to go and hang out, and learn about life - and about themselves.

``We instill pride in students' roots and promote cultural awareness, diversity and tolerance,'' adviser Maria Aguilar said. ``We stress perseverance and persistence in education.''

Founded in October 1994 by seven Latino students, the group has mushroomed to 42 members, including African-Americans and whites as well as Latinos. The students raise money to help the needy and take educational field trips to Towsley Canyon Park in Newhall and the Mexican-American Women's Conference in Los Angeles.

Last month, the club donated toys to 300 needy children in Val Verde and gave away about $100 in cash to students unable to afford textbooks or school clothing.

``We get together and do stuff for the community,'' said the club president Melanie Semon, a 17-year-old junior. ``We also get ideas about how to plan for the future.''

Each week, members listen to guest speakers who serve as positive role models. Past speakers have included attorneys, nurses and accountants.

``I want them to be able to see that this guy was poor or middle-class, and he made it. So can you,'' Aguilar said.

Aguilar said students are drawn to the club because it gives them a forum to discuss their emotions and find solutions to their teen-age angst.

``They can express themselves. They get together, and they can help each other,'' said Aguilar, a petite woman who quietly moderates free-wheeling discussions about safe sex and drug abuse. ``They feel comfortable with each other.''

``It's a good place to go and talk,'' said Navarro, a 15-year-old sophomore who joined the group two years ago. ``If we have a problem, we can go to Mrs. Aguilar. If there's a disagreement, we can come to her.''

Students said Aguilar is a key asset of the club. Members see her as maternal, guiding them through sometimes-troubling adolescence.

``She cares. She's there for you,'' said Mireya Hurtado, a 14-year-old freshman, who said Aguilar has visited ill students at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. ``She's like a second mother to us.''

Sometimes students call Aguilar late at night to discuss problems involving boyfriends, girlfriends or parents. ``I tell them there's no time limit,'' Aguilar said. ``If you guys need me, I'm there.''

Cardenas, an 18-year-old senior, said he heard about the club through his girlfriend. He immediately enjoyed learning more about his Latino heritage through the club, whose members attend ballet folklorico performances.

``It was interesting,'' he said. ``We learned more about ourselves.''

For his girlfriend, Pollyanna Medina, the club is an important part of life.

``It's not like any other club,'' the 17-year-old junior said. ``It involves (students of) different colors, and we all work together.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1-2--ran in SAC and AV editions only--color in SAC only) Students in the Future Images club at Valencia High School say their adviser, Maria Aguilar, is like a second mother to them. Above, she gives some encouragement to 17-year-old Pollyanna Medina. At left, Aguilar meets with club members at lunchtime at school.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News