Making a Difference
“ I experienced a lot of bullying , and no one liked me very much . It was hard , I had no one … I started wondering what was the point in graduating ,” said Sosa , who spent three years in Junior ROTC before joining JAG .
As an immigrant , Sosa found it difficult to fit in with new classmates in a new country . He became mean , explosive , and easily provoked , starting his fair share of fights . The isolation proved too much , and he fell prey to deep depression and withdrew . Yet , once he joined JAG and met his specialists Josh Arredondo and Gina Rivera , Sosa found acceptance that gave him a renewed outlook .
“ My mentors told me I wasn ’ t just destroying my life ; my actions were hurting others . That really hit me . I was so scared of other people hurting me , I created a shield and would hurt people first ,” said Sosa . “ For the first time , they helped me care about myself and my future , and I ’ ve been accepted to multiple colleges . People say that I ’ ve done a 180 : I ’ m nice , I care , I listen to others . Once I let people in , I became a social person my senior year .”
An integral part of the program ’ s success lies in its JAG specialists who wear multiple hats : they are teachers , mentors , parents , friends , cheerleaders , and compassionate individuals .
“ There is no barrier too big or too small for our JAG specialists , they will help students confront it ,” said Cantu . “ If we have a homeless student , the specialist will seek resources that provide temporary housing , clothing , and food so they can make it to class ; if a student has a high absentee rate , the specialist will call them every morning and pop into their classes throughout the day to make sure they are present .”
Gales , who is set to graduate from Bonanza High School in May , felt that bond early on with his specialist , Dion Lee . Gales found someone who believed in him , kept him accountable , and most importantly , didn ’ t judge his past mistakes .
Isabelle West at Tesla .
town from his school , but his quest for a high school diploma and his special relationship with his specialist gets him up every morning to take the two-hour bus ride to Bonanza High School .
“ Mr . Lee changed my way of thinking and the way I view life ,” said Gales . “ I am not stuck because of my circumstances . With hard work and discipline , I can achieve anything I want to and right now I want my high school diploma . My mother and older siblings never got their diplomas , so I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders to achieve this , but I will not let anything get in my way . I also want to set a positive example for my younger siblings and let them know it ’ s possible .”
Gales gets his incredible work ethic from his mother , who taught him first-hand about sacrifice . “ My mom is my hero . She always puts her six children before herself , and even though she wasn ’ t dealt the best cards in life , she never gave up . I owe everything to her , and my future success will also be hers .”
Making a Difference
“ My mom , who is a single mother to six children , moved my siblings and I to Las Vegas from California ,” said Gales . “ We are constantly moving from place to place , and we ’ ve been homeless a few times . Being a middle child , I had to grow up quick to take care of my younger siblings while my mom was working to provide for our family .”
In middle school , Gales was always causing trouble . He was expelled after a fight with another student and forced to undergo a three-month boot camp program , which he describes as “ brutal .” In high school , he was introduced to Lee , who is also his football coach . Gales currently lives in a weekly motel across
What differentiates JAG Nevada from other graduation programs is that JAG specialists continue to mentor the student during their first year after graduating to ensure a successful transition into life after high school .
“ One of our star alums is Isabelle West , who took a chance and joined other JAG students traveling to the Tesla Gigafactory in Reno for job interviews ,” said Cantu . “ Being on the line at the Gigafactory and working alongside engineers sparked her interest in engineering . Now Isabelle is attending Truckee Meadows Community College , learning coding , and she now aspires to become an engineer and continue her work at Tesla .”
66 May / June 2018