A Story of Survivors

Again, I am grateful to God for so many things.  Today, I am grateful for El Camino College and it's Associated Student Organization (ASO.)

As some of you know, I was born into a poor family. Luckily, my father managed to get a job in aerospace in the late 70s, while still working as a pastor.  When my father was laid off from his aerospace job in 1995, the vision of a four-year college seemed to fade into the distance as my senior year drew closer.  At this time, I told my mother that I would just get a job and help support the household and help my sister finish school, and then, I would go to college. My mother was not having it, but when we looked at new tuition costs we realized that I couldn't go to the schools I had always dreamed of.  So, I was to either not going to school or go to El Camino College which happened to be the closest community college to our home. 

I decided to go to El Camino and although my dreams were of NYU and it's famous Tisch school of the arts. I bit my tongue while students who were not theatre majors struggled through acting scenes and took my craft lightly; not memorizing lines, breaking character, lacking focus, and simply not caring about their "elective" option. I for one, did take it seriously.  I switched majors, but came back to my true love: Theatre Arts. Eventually, I started a drama club on campus and ran for the "Fine Art" representative position for El Camino ASO and I stuck around long enough to run for ASO Secretary. 

It was during this time that I met some amazingly ambitious students at El Camino College and noticed that not everyone at El Camino was a slacker or would be there for 10 years.  I made some amazing friends while I was there.  We'd spend our lunches chatting, playing Chinese poker, and working toward righting the wrongs at El Camino. Together with our ASO director Harold Tyler, we went to board meetings and presented arguments for lower parking fees, and child care.   I felt like I was a DC comic book character fighting, writing, and speaking to make the school a better place for the poor.  It was wonderful!  I had purpose again.  I became part of the Alpha Gamma Sigma honor's society and eventually began looking at transferring.  I was accepted to UC Riverside, UC Irvine, USC, and every other Cal State in southern CA,  but chose to go to Cal State Fullerton instead for their excellent Theatre program and affordability.

I am grateful to each of the friends I played Chinese poker with and spent hour typing up proposals and studying finals with.  After we transferred I wasn't able to keep in touch.  My work schedule and class schedule kept me busy for 20/ 24 hours.   But after graduation and the invention of social networking, I was able to keep in touch with one; Siannah.

It was Siannah who emailed me and invited me to Harold Tyler's retirement celebration at El Camino.  When I arrived, I knew no one.  I clenched my teeth and awaited seeing my old friends.  Finally, a face I vaguely remembered came toward me, shook my hand, and said hi.  It's been about 10 years since I was at El Camino.  I asked him his name.... Sabas!  I lost the grip on his hand and gave him a hug.  This man was an inspiration to any Latino male in the inner-city.  El Camino gave him an opportunity and he ran with it.  About thirty minutes later, Siannah walks in.  She's in a gray pant suit looking gorgeous and powerful... She's working for the D.A.  Then, Bryan...he's a lawyer too.  I looked at this circle of friends and thought to myself...we've come pretty far.  I almost felt ashamed because I am only a teacher. 

On my way back to my car I walked through the Performing Arts (Music Building) and saw the bulletin board that I created for the Drama Club... the same bulletin board letters, border, and paper that I used.  Ten years later, no one has stepped up to change it, make it better.

That's when it hit me... El Camino College ASO was a place for each of us to grow. To realize that we could make change as small as it may be, but change nonetheless.  ASO was platform for students who came from nothing: poverty, single parents, the streets and we became something.  Each of us have a career worthy of note.  Each of us is a success story.

I received an email of a picture we took.  As I looked at each  face,  I felt proud of each of them and myself.  We made it!  So many young people in our predicaments don't, but we did.   So often I feel like there's more to do in life, but we survived a lot and will continue to be survivors.