I remember my first day at Coronado. Unlike many of you, I didn’t come here as a freshman. I don’t know what the old school looks like and for a long time I was never included in what’s been called the “Melting Pot Class.”
I came here my sophomore year, at the very end, when there was only a month left of school. Qori was the first person I talked to, in Journalism. Mr. Gerchick gave her the task of showing me around the school on my first day. We had almost the exact same schedule so it was easy for her to escort me from class to class. She seemed overwhelmed and distant and we didn’t like each other at first.
The month left of school went on until summer came. I had bombed many of my classes due to blowing them off at my former school so I went to summer school. Right after summer school was over, school was back in session.
My hope was that at the beginning of my junior year I would fit in, make friends. Become part of the school. I met my girlfriend at the time, Ariel Quick, who I was completely crazy about. I had a best friend, Aaron Coalson and I was involved in choir, ACE (Advanced Choral Ensemble), and I was Clubs section editor of the Coronado Explorer. Between those three things and honors/AP classes I was busy enough that I didn’t concentrate on my pathetic social life. But when Ariel and I broke up around mid-February, Qori came back into my life.
The two of us had heard about the district possibly cutting performing arts classes and because we were so immersed in the performing arts life, we banded together to take students to March4Schools. We became best friends instantly once the walls were taken down. Qori, Erick Beltran and I were pretty much inseparable for the rest of the school year. Qori and I struggled through everything together.
Summer eventually rolled around and the three of us drifted apart until Qori and I spent an entire month together at my grandparent’s house. Swimming, walking, complaining about things we didn’t like and watermelon define that summer for us.
Once senior year finally started, Qori and I planned to be on top of our game, but personal circumstances arise and things fall apart. We both spent a good part of the year just trying to figure out who we were, what we wanted. I found a new guy, Xavier Alejandro, who I’m completely in love with, and Qori has followed her own path, for better or for worse.
Now, at the end of my senior year, I’ve learned a couple of things. 1) “You can’t let your circumstances become you”. 2) Sometimes I have to put myself first in order to be happy. 3) No matter how hectic, or horrible things get, there is always another road you can take, you always have alternatives, even if you don’t see them right away.
Journalism has shown me how to look at all my options. Like a story, I’ve learned to look at all aspects of a situation before decided what to do. Life is always going to throw roadblocks at you, especially in high school. You just have to learn how to look around the roadblock and see what really matters.