When I was young, my world changed after my father became unable to work and I felt responsible for taking care of my family. This added pressure caused my attendance and grades to suffer. With the help of a caring adult in my school, I was able to find balance, ultimately becoming the first in my family to graduate from high school and go on to college.
Find out what I’m made of. Click on the items below to explore my portrait, and hover over the left navigation for more of my story.
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Click to stop the audioI met Brett, my mentor, through Communities In Schools. Brett helped me prioritize long-term goals like my education while still navigating the adult-sized problems I faced together. Brett helped me grow into a young adult not only with dreams, but with a plan.
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Click to stop the audioMy family immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. When my family faced immigration issues, I had to go back and forth between countries, and my grades and attendance slipped. Communities In Schools stepped in and arranged for me to take online courses, which was crucial in helping me maintain my grades.
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Click to stop the audioMy dad owned multiple restaurants, but a stroke left him unable to work when I was in fifth grade. When my mom also got sick, I became the main breadwinner of my family, working nearly full-time in the back of family friends’ restaurants from a young age while also going to school.
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Click to stop the audioI plan to study architecture and business in college. I dream of becoming a professional architect and one day owning my own firm.
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Click to stop the audioSoccer is an important part of my life—I’m an avid fan, I love watching and playing the game.
David is a graduate of Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington. His world changed at a young age when his father was no longer able to work, leaving David with the responsibility of taking care of his family. This added pressure caused David's attendance and grades to suffer, but with the support of Communities In Schools, he was able to find a balance—ultimately becoming the first person in his family to graduate from high school and go to college.
The biggest challenge facing students today is not having a
strong support system, either from family, from friends or at school.
People don’t expect me to have a dark past because I keep a lot of things to myself, and I always walk around with my head high and a smile on my face.
I was taught to never give up when things get difficult, because in the end, I will feel happiness with my accomplishments. This advice still stands true today.
I love to bring positivity to wherever I am.
It was very difficult to balance working full-time and going to school.
It was very difficult to balance working full-time and going to school.
I would start work at 3 p.m. and wouldn’t be out until 1 or 2 a.m. every day. I had to quit because it wasn’t worth it. I later got a different job at
a retail store, which helped me balance school a lot better.
of at-risk young adults who have a mentor aspire to enroll in and graduate from college. Bruce & Bridgeland, 2014
Architecture is great to put my creativity to work, but what really drew me to it was working as a house painter. I saw how houses are all built differently and how buildings represent others’ creativity.
I would love to travel to Europe because I’m fascinated by European buildings, architecture and statues. I would love to learn more about them and see these things in real life, not just in pictures or videos.
Being Mexican-American is something that I am deeply proud of.
I grew up in a Mexican household where I was taught to always be hardworking and to respect everyone regardless of race, culture or religion. That’s something I highly value.
