"Find a connection with the kids, the little kids, and once I find that connection, it makes everything a little easier, and it brings the kids closer to us," said Mercado.
Whether it's a mental or physical workout, there are a lot of valuable lessons to be learned.
"Teamwork, never give up and to always help others. Teamwork, because it makes it easier to get something done," Mercado said.
Mercado gets her reward when she sees young people improve.
"It makes me very happy. Because that's what I want to do. I want to impact other people's lives so they can become better people," she said.
In helping these kids grow, Mercado has found ways to change in positive ways herself.
"It's motivated me to do several things, like to be really involved and to help other people and not to only think about myself, to always think about others," said Mercado.
Making life better for the next generation in Los Angeles makes Christine Mercado our /*Cool Kid*/.
