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Wednesday, 24 April 2013
What’s the point?
Have you ever questioned why you are putting forth effort towards a goal when times get tough? Jorge Chavez, a graduate from Simon Youth Academy at Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix, Arizona, took a look in the mirror and asked this same question. A high school diploma wasn’t anything but a fancy piece of paper to him. Family responsibilities were more pressing and important than a subject he thought he’d never use. Mere credits away from graduating, Jorge dropped out.
Jorge was two years old when he was brought to the United States. His parents worked very hard to provide for him and his younger brother. Sometimes hot water or electricity was off, but he never thought twice about why because his family was happy. As he grew older, he noticed a difference between the other kids at school and him.
“I’d ask to go on class field trips or camps and be told no,” Jorge said. “I didn’t understand why the other kids could go but I had to stay at home. I realized as a teenager the reason was because of how my parents came to the U.S.”
For a short time, Jorge resented his parents. This is when he started asking the question, ‘What’s the point?’ If he wasn’t able to go on a field trip, how would a diploma change his life? It took him a year to get over these feelings.
“I was filled with frustration and feeling sorry for myself because of the situation instead of trying to figure out how I can succeed. The day I stepped into the Academy that changed. It was that day I decided I wanted it as opposed to everyone wanting it for me.”
Jorge credits the one-on-one instruction and working at his own pace as the primary factors keeping him motivated. He started seeing progress and helped him continue setting daily goals. The real lesson he was learning – I can do this. And he hasn’t stopped since then.
“Graduation is not the ending for me. I’m going to Glendale Community College and then Arizona State University to study engineering. I’m that much closer to my dreams, so I’m not going to waste time. I got this.”
Simon Youth Foundation is celebrating 15 years of igniting hope, graduating more than 10,000 students, and awarding more than $10 million in scholarships. The 23 academies in 13 states partner with more than 50 school districts and graduate students at a 90% rate. Learn more at syf.org.
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