When Angel Solis stepped into SIATech High School in Long Beach, he made the comment that he wanted to experience the entire Job Corps experience. Since childhood, Angel was expected by his parents to be the best at everything. He commented that his family was very strict, and that as a child he felt it was unfair, but as a young man looking back he feels it helped him become who he is today. During our conversation, Angel commented about his past and where he grew up. I asked him if it had an impact in his life, and he replied with a strong yes. 

Angel grew up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Southern California. South Central is a place that is full of gang life, drugs, and violence. Angel commented that he tried to avoid the statistics of his area, but it did not mean that those statistics would not avoid him. Angel commented of a time when gang members verbally harassed him because he had lost a phone of a friend who was involved in gangs. Angel became scared, so he began to avoid people in his neighborhood.

One person he did not avoid was a girlfriend. He believed he liked her, but because of that relationship he did not join his fellow classmates at his graduation ceremony. A few days later, he received a call from his grandma. It was not a great call. His grandma spoke to him on the phone and she commented with tears, “You disappointed our family.” Angel was impacted, but it impacted him in a positive way. He commented, “What kept me focused to succeed was trying to better myself, so I would not let down my family again.” He knew he had to take the next step, so he joined Job Corps in Long Beach, CA. Angel asked me if he could write a bit on his experience, so I am going to give him the spotlight.

Angel Solis wrote on his SIATech High School experience, “When I first stepped foot into SIATech High School, I was worried that I was going to make another mistake and not graduate. I was nervous. Staff here helped me achieve and gain the confidence that I needed to be where I am at today. Two staff members here helped me gain my confidence the most. It is hard to find a place where staff could make such a difference in the life of students. I remember that Mr. Yanes would always find a way to make me focus and stay on track while having a great learning experience. He made class fun and memorable. I became really happy because I noticed that the staff really did care about my success. Mr. Estrada would always push me to get my work done. He really cared about his students, and he cared that we learned. He stayed afterschool and helped many students finish so they could graduate on time. I am very thankful, and because of SIATech staff, I am now a high school graduate.” All of SIATech High School congratulates our next high school graduate!