PLAYING CATCH

PLAYING CATCH

For nearly 37 years of my life, my dad was always there. Not once did I ever imagine a world without him. Sadly, in 2008, he left for a better place. There’s no doubt in my mind that he is in Heaven. My dad was the greatest father, son, friend, brother, and uncle anyone could ever ask for. He was a kind, loving person who had no enemies and always avoided arguments, especially with my mother.

Though he was a man of few words, he was deeply loved by everyone who knew him. He treated everyone with respect, even if he disagreed with them. My dad was a hard worker, a great role model, and a teacher of life. He often preached the same lessons to us:

Hard work pays off. Always be on time. Be good to people. Respect your elders. No one is better than you, and you are not better than anyone else.

He was also incredibly strict, and he kept his five children in check. Yes, I made plenty of mistakes, and he made sure I remembered them—usually with the belt. Yet, out of all the memories I have, one stands out the most: playing catch.

After a long day at work, even though he was tired, my dad always made time to play catch with me. He taught me how to throw a curveball and how to pitch low and outside. I’m certain that if it were up to him, he would have loved for me to play professional baseball. That was my dream too.

Sorry, Dad, the Major Leagues didn’t work out. But trust me, I’m in a great position. I’m not a pitcher, third baseman, or left fielder for the New York Yankees. Instead, I’m the proud principal of Rio Hondo High School P-TECH. This job is challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. It’s about helping mold young lives, just like you molded ours.

This position isn’t about me and never will be. It’s about the kids and making their dreams a reality. I often wonder: Why can’t the next U.S. President come from the halls of RHHS P-TECH? Why not? Are we helping kids achieve their dreams? Are we giving them the skills they need to succeed? Are we creating learning environments that truly challenge our students? Or are we missing the bigger picture?

And one final question: did my dad fail because I didn’t make it to the Major Leagues? The answer is a resounding no. He didn’t fail. Along with my teachers, he gave me the skills I needed to succeed in life. Little did he know that those evenings playing catch would inspire me to dream big.

Thank you, Dad. Until we meet again, I’ll keep playing catch.

EXPECT NOTHING IN RETURN

EXPECT NOTHING IN RETURN

My parents taught me a very important lesson early in life. The message was clear and simple: “Always try to help people; do it out of kindness and expect nothing in return.” Honestly, as a teenager, I probably didn’t fully understand the concept, but regardless, my parents made sure I practiced that lesson. They had me mow yards for free. Every month, I would mow four yards, and even though I expected nothing in return, I am here today to tell you that I have received something in return. I have been blessed—blessed with a great family, wonderful kids, amazing friends, good health, and a fulfilling job. If you don’t know by now, trust that one good deed is always followed by another. 

This year, during Random Acts of Kindness Week, which coincided with the month of February, four of our students went out of their way to acknowledge our custodians. These girls decided to give our custodians a heartfelt Valentine’s treat, and just like me, they expected nothing in return. The custodians were overwhelmed with tears of joy. Fast forward to this past Friday—I received a phone call from our superintendent informing me that one of the custodians’ sons was so moved by our students’ kindness that he wanted to show his appreciation. Army Specialist Eli Mata came to our campus and treated our girls to Papa John’s Pizza. The girls were surprised and honored. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect this. Their original intent was to be kind, nothing more.

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: I have only been here for less than a year, but this act of kindness stands out as one of my proudest moments as the leader of this campus. There is no doubt in my mind that we will have other success stories, but this one will always stay close to home—literally.

Thank you, Elvira Ortega, Anamia Duran, Xitlali Coyote, and Diana Godinez, for the beautiful reminder. Keep making your parents and our community proud.