# data[].attributes.body
How do you define a successful life? Do you think you will have a successful life?
"This is a tough question. I feel like most would say you have a lot of money or famous to be successful ,but I would define a successful life as being happy, having a career I enjoy, a family, and enough money to live comfortably. Everybody has a different answer to this question! I believe I will have a successful life if I work hard and enjoy my career."
Reported by Bernie Truax

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Have you had any big troubles in your life?

"When I was four years old I was diagnosed with leukemia. That was a 4-5 year journey with the help of my parents and doctors that I got close to. They helped me stay positive. I don't really have a bad memory of it since now that I am old. But it's a constant reminder on how bad things can get but I always try my best to be happy and live life to the fullest.

Do you have a future goal?

"My biggest goal right now is to graduate high school. Then once I graduate I'd like to go to Palomar for two years then transfer to a four year. And proceed with my career which would be real estate and business."

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Did you have a job before this one?

"Yes I did have a job before this one. I am a former New York City police detective. I worked in New York City for 27 years. I worked in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. But I retired and moved out to California 12 years ago.

Were you there on 9-11-01?

Yes I was, my partner and I were working. That day we had election duty so we went to the election sites, check the poles, and make sure everything was running smoothly.  It was a beautiful blue sky that day. We happened to be leaving one of the sites and a transmission came over the radio that they just attacked the twin towers. And i told my partner this is enough when we get back to the precinct i'm going to speak to the commanding officer about this because unauthorized transmissions were not good when you say things like that. We happened to look over our shoulders, because we can see the manhattan skyline from where we were. All we could see was black smoke where the twin towers stood… at that moment we knew it was true. There was a radio silence for 5-6 seconds. Then transmissions came over saying come back to the precinct, of course because they have to send us out. We were just moving on automatic. We were doing what we were trained to do. But the other side of was just shocked, afraid for loved ones, family friends, and what was happening to our city and our country at the time. We managed that day.. The next day we all had to go down to 911 and they called a ground zero. From that moment on i was there for 6 months straight. It was either ground zero or working in the family center. And what we did in the family canter was families  would come in with combs, and brushes, and articles of clothing...trying to get DNA checked to get the remains that they were digging up at ground zero. We only survived because we had to survive for others. We did what we had to do for the ones who lost their loved ones. But we all suffered from a terrible loss that day our city, our country, we will never be the same. I know I will never be the same but I'm still here. And I just have to something special for first responders, it is a job that not everyone can do but the ones that can do them they are special. Not saying that no one else is special but first responders are very special and always have to keep them in our prayers."

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Did you have a job before this?

"I did, I had a few different jobs. I worked for the Padres for 14 years and I also used to work at Chanel 6 directing a weekend morning show."

Was this your dream job?

It would be my dream job if I lived 10 minutes from the school. And if my classes were half the size they were now. So many students are very interested in this class. It's super fascinating to see what my students create from the beginning of the year compared to the end of the year."

Do you enjoy working at Rancho?

I do. I have a really fun subject I get to teach and it’s exciting to see all the work that my students create and see the progress grow from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. It’s very satisfying to see really strong pieces of production turned in. You actually notice that your students take suggestions that you gave them."

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What is your goal in life?

"Graduate from high school and get my master's degree in criminal and justice."

Do you have any regrets and why?

"No I don't have any regrets because all the decisions I made were for a reason and I wouldn't be who I am today without my mistakes."

Would you change any decisions you made?

"If I could go back and change some of my decisions that I made I would. I would probably be happier."

Do you think the way you grew up encouraged you to be who you are today?

"Yes, the way I grew up always encouraged me to be my best and to encourage me in many ways like having discipline and responsibility."

Do you think it's better to tell someone about your problems?

"Yes it's always good to tell someone about your problems either to your parents, a friend or even your counselor. They might have gone through the same thing and can give advice on how to get through it."

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What’s something you struggle with?

“I struggle with anxiety.”

What’s something you fear of?

“ Getting hurt by people I love.”

What would you like to do as your career?

“ Being a writer about life experiences that people go through and can relate.”

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What is your favorite wrestling style? Why?
"Greco Roman. Reason I like Greco Roman is because you only use your upper body. You have to really fight with your hands and outsmart your opponents. Another reason is you have to find techniques to lift your opponent and throw him while maintaining control all the way down to the mat. "
Reported by Bernie Truax

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Who do you look up to the most?
"I look up to my grandfather Max. He went through so much gnarly stuff in his life. He kept going and before he died he never let his anger of what was happening get to him, he was my best friend. "
Reported by Bernie Truax

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What worries you the most about your future?
"In my future, I worry that success may not always come after hard work because that would be demoralizing."
Reported by Bernie Truax

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What matters most in your life?
"Family and school definitely matter the most in my life. My family always supports me through everything and school will help my future."
Reported by Bernie Truax

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What is the best and worst quality about yourself?
"I would have to say my best quality is how I care so much for the people in my life. My worst quality would be how inconsistent I am with food eating habits and work ethic."
Reported by Bernie Truax

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Why did you get into cars?
"I got into cars because I really like how they look. The style you can make of them, not all of them will look the same, and also you can fix them up from the inside and the outside so you can make the faster, make them look cool. You can do cool stuff like burn outs, reving

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What advice would you give your students?
"I would advise my students to never be afraid to be who they are and to be kind and compassionate to everyone they come into contact with. I would tell them to always take ownership for their actions; and that although they have the freedom to make their own choices in life, they are not free from the consequences of those choices. Finally I would tell my students to never let anyone make them feel like they aren’t enough because they all have something unique and wonderful to offer the world."
Reported by Cruz Lopez

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What is your greatest experience?

‘’My greatest experience was when I went on a cruise with my husband for our honeymoon.’’
Reported by Lesly Rodriguez

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What is your goal in life?
‘’My goal in life is to become a firefighter and live in Los Angeles.’’

Reported by Lesly Rodriguez

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What are your plans after High School?
"After high school I want to go to Tennessee to go to college. I'm going to Tennessee because my dad said he would pay for my college if I went there. When I am there I would like to study law and hopefully become a lawyer because they get paid a lot of money and it seems like a good career choice."
Reported by Gage Wilson

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What's your purpose in life?
"I think my purpose in life is to make the world a better place and I start locally with my job, trying to be a good community member and vote. Well I think it comes down to the one to one opportunities. You never know how you're going to impact someone".
Reported by Aethen Escamilla

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What do you expect at the end of the school year for our students?
"I think it's different what I expect for each student is growth from whatever their starting point is. I know we have standards but for someone people an accomplishment that's maybe from a standard from a class below is a huge accomplishment for them. So that's what their expectations are trying to get them to: the standards that they need to exit at their level. I mean I teach 11 and 12th grade, but I think there's small little victories for individual students."
Reported by Makayla Fox

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What does it mean to be beautiful?
"I think being beautiful isn't necessarily looks as much as it is who you are as a person, your personality traits, your morals, and how you act towards people."
Reported by Hannah Rose Brown

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What do you like about music?
"Music is like a love potion for the ears, it brings more than just sounds put together on a track, it brings this incredible wave of energy and happiness like none other. Some of it makes you want to start dancing right away. It's hard not to start trying to boogie when Hollywood Swinging by Kool & The Gang starts playing or swinging my hips as soon as Elvis says "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog!" The wide variety of music in this world makes it hard to ever get bored of it. It's just so freaking  Fantabulous!"
Reported by Hannah Rose Brown

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What are your favorite things to do ?
"My favorite thing to do is ride my dirt bike and race against other people. I call the other people squids".
Reported by Aethen Escamilla

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What's your dream car and why?
"My dream car is a old classic car I forgot the name of it. I like it because it has a cool body style and I like old cars."
Reported by Jose Montesinos

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What's your favorite thing about RBV?
"My favorite thing about RBV probably has to be the students...they rejuvenate me and always make me want to come back to give them more knowledge."
Written by Tanner Colony

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What is your favorite childhood memory?
When I was 10 my softball team flew out to Johnson City, Tennessee for a national travel ball tournament. We were there for about a week. It was very very hot. And humid. We ate a lot of hotel food, but we also went to a fried chicken fast-food place. It was a fun experience and we ended up winning the tournament."
Reported by Hannah Rose Brown

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What is something about life people don't appreciate as much as they should?
"I believe teenagers don't appreciate the things that their parents do for them, like the sacrifices they make for them to have a roof over their head and food on their table."
Reported by Koralys Iguina

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What made you decide to become a teacher?
"I started coaching basketball in high school and realize I liked to teach students. I decided to become a teacher since then."
Reported by Graciela Hernandez

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What’s something you struggle with?

“I struggle getting along with my sisters.”

What’s your biggest fear?

“My biggest fear is dying because I haven’t accomplished all my dreams yet. I want to explore and experience life longer and much as possible and live life to the fullest.”
Reported by Jasmine Barrera

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What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?

"The birth of my son and daughter."

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?

"Finding out my mother-in-law had cancer."

If you could change one decision you have made in your life, what would it be?

"Probably eat healthy food earlier in life."

Reported by Lilu Farias

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What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?

"To have the family I have."

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?

"Have to go to school."

What do you wish to do later in life?

"That's easy, be a musician."

Reported by Lilu Farias

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What would you like your future career to be, and why?
“As a career in the future I’d like to be a Wildlife biologist because I really like to understand how organisms communicate with each other and it’s really interesting.”
Reported by Antonio Huizar

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What advice  would you give to a large group of people?

“I would say to be smart and don’t do anything dumb that you’ll regret at the end of the day.”

What’s something you struggle with?

“I struggle with getting along with my mother. Mainly because we have many differences and don’t agree on some things.”
Reported by Jasmine Barrera

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Why do you wear the same clothing everyday?
"The reason why I wear the same clothing everyday is because I don't want to attract attention but it's ironic because I am attracting attention and people think I'm a bum. HAHAHA. But the real reason why I wear simple looking clothing is because I don't want people to intrude on my average high school life. That's why I wear the most simplest clothing I can find, cause I want to fit in with society."
Reported by Cindy Bui

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If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

"If I can change something of my life could be the distance between me and my sisters."
Reported by Jesus Magana

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What is your favorite moment in tennis?
"Playing with the team, yeah. OH OH I think learning more skills in tennis and that you can challenge yourself."
Reported by Cindy Bui

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What is your greatest achievement?

‘’My greatest achievement was when I learned how to ride my bike because I felt happy and I didn't need help anymore.’’
Reported by Lesly Rodriguez

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What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?

"Having my two kids."

What is your greatest struggle?

"The struggle that comes with having my two children."

If you could change one decision you have made in your life, what would it be?

"I would want to change my major to an English major."

Reported by Lilu Farias

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What type of art supplies do you most regret buying?
"Overpriced flat liners because I've found many dupes over the years and I learned that I don't have buy the most expensive ones because there are better options for cheaper so I don't have to break my bank."
Reported by Cindy Bui

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What is your biggest strength?
"My biggest strength is being mentally strong and never quitting on anyone or anything."
Reported by Eduardo Rosas

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What made you become a teacher ?

“Well, I always liked working with kids. Even when I was your age I liked working with the kids at Church. I wanted to be a Youth Pastor originally, but I'm not doing that anymore. Then I wanted to teach french and photography because that was really my jam back in the day. But not now, now I like the english.”

What makes you happy ?

“Ohh I like food, food is my favorite; all food, healthy food, bad food, all food is delicious.”

Reported by Leslie Lopez

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Who do you most admire in life and why?
"The person that I most admire is my mom because she's always there for me no matter what."
Reported by Litzy Valdez

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What teacher made the most impact on you and why?
"Mrs. Koehler made the most impact on me. She's not only a teacher, she's not only a coach but she's someone that I can talk to about anything as well as having a laugh."
What is some advice you could give someone?
"I would simply say live your live your the fullest but don't impulsively act"
Reported by Litzy Valdez

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What do you want to do in the future?
"In the future I hope to graduate with my friends and go to college to pursue a career in sports or sports medicine."
Reported by Eduardo Rosas

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What do you want to do a year from now?
"A year from now I want to graduate high school and become an engineer or something that involves working with cars. I also want to have my own car to drive around in."
Reported by Eduardo Rosas

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What are you most proud of?
"I am most proud of teaching for 25 years. To know I'm helping students and I'm really impacting them in life. It really makes me feel good."
Reported by Michael Butts

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Do you believe in extraterrestrial life?

“I think that it would be ignorant of me to think that in an infinitely expanding universe this one planet is the only source of life out there and that we are the only organisms to inhabit this universe. I think that there most definitely is life in other galaxies, solar systems, and even planets whether it be in the form of bacteria or little green men in flying saucers. I don’t necessarily believe that aliens visit this planet in space ships to observe us, however I don’t dismiss the idea since many people claim to see aliens and their mechanisms of transport. I think that it is possible that we've visited by other beings, but I won’t believe it until I experience first hand.”

Reported by Audrey Porter

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What's your hobby or favorite sport?
"I enjoy soccer. It makes me feel good."
Reported by Litzy Matadamas

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What are your plans after high school?
"Going to college and learn more about automotives because I love cars."
Reported By Isaias Vargas

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If you were to do something differently in life, what would it be ?

"If I were to do something differently in life, it would be to take more risks and take more opportunities that I didn’t take in the past."

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

"I see myself going to work everyday for the next 5 years."

Reported by Maria Trujillo

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What kind of movies do you like?
"I like more of Marvel movies because because I always loved Marvel Comics because each of them have dark story and a twisted past. I like DC to, but the movies are really bad and Marvel is doing way better. I just like the overall story of the comics."
Reported by Isaias Vargas

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If you can change anything in your life what would it be and if not why?
"Wow that is a great question... man that's very thought provoking makes you really think of your life... Wow I don't really have an answer because I don't regret anything. I'm happy with where I'm at and that's just it."
Reported By Miguel Chavez Ramirez

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What was your best day so far?
"When I went out with my girlfriend to the beach."
Reported by Mellany Martinez

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"What is your favorite thing about art?"
"My favorite thing.. that's a hard question. I think it's the feeling that I can make it how I want and it makes me feel good. "
Reported by Litzy Matadamas

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What do you plan to do after high school?
"After high school would like to join the navy and go fight wars."
Reported by Jose Ruiz

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"What is the biggest difference about living here as opposed to Greece"
"The biggest difference is the schools. In Greece the schooling was very strict and super hard whereas here it is a lot easier. The other difference is the people here don't go out during weekdays as much back in Greece I would hang with my friends all the time and here I barely get to because everyone is super busy"
Reported by Gage Wilson

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What are your hopes for your students?
"I want to show my students good work habits they can use in the future and impact them as much as I can"
Reported by Litzy Matadamas

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Is there a moment in your life you like to relive?
"Yes there is. I would like to relive my championship game back when I was in high school.  I remember winning the game and celebrating with my teammates later that day. It was one of the best feelings."
Reported by David Morales

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What are you hoping to pursue in your future?
"What I'm trying to pursue in my future is to become a real estate agent because there is a lot of flexibility in their hours and they earn a good amount of money. I became interested in this field of work because my father is one."
Reported by Miguel Chavez Ramirez

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"What is your main goal for RBV students?"
"My main goals.. with no doubt to see them succeed and do good in school not only right now but in the future too."
Reported by Litzy Matadamas

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What is your fondest high school memory?
“My fondest high school memory was summer going into junior year because I hung out with my friends almost every day and we would go to the beach and have bonfires. It was also right after I moved and it was really nice to be hanging out with all of my old school friends all the time.“
Interviewed by Miguel Gutierrez

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What is your fondest high school memory?
"My favorite high school moment was last fall a large group of more than twenty rebellious students all streaked across the football field at the same time. I don't know who participated, but it was a brilliant act of teen organization skills.”
Reported by Miguel Gutierrez

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Tell me about the Marine Corps?
"The  Marine Corps was started back in the 1700s. It is a department of the Navy, which means it’s not a separate branch. They fall under Navy branch, but they are better than the Navy. The Marines are the best. It’s what we do… or what they do rather; and they’re very good at what they do. They go in, get the bad guy, and leave. No more, no less; and let everyone else clean up the mess. I personally wanted to join the Marine Corps when I was about 4 years old, my step-dad was Marine, my grandpas on both sides have been in the Military, my grandma, my aunt; it’s kind of a family tradition”.
Reported by Azin Khanzadeh

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What extracurricular activities are involved in and what is it that makes it so unique?

“I actually am in a car club that had called Visions Car Club, which I’ve been in for 3 years,  which has a lowrider bike club and a lowrider club car; I’m in the lowrider bike club. The thing that makes the club unique is the people there who dress and identify as me, which is Chicana/x. There's not alot of people that dress like that anymore and that are into lowriders anymore. My sense of style and love for the lowrider design was inspired from my father who owned a lowrider; who also inspires me to represent and love the Chicano culture.”

Reported by Diego Jimenez

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What activities are you involved at RBV and why?
“I joined Marching Band to meet more people I also joined marching band  to improve my trumpet experience. I have seen major improvements and I love being there. I recommend people to join Marching Band.”
Reported by Natalia Campos

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Why do you like dancing ?

“Because it helps me express my emotions and it just builds up my confidence and I just like to perform a lot because it helps me show people what I can do and show an art without painting or anything.”
Reported by Leslie Lopez

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What is your biggest fear and why?
"My biggest fear is losing someone I love because I don't want to have them out of my life."
Reported by Edgar Molin

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What is your hobby?
"My favorite hobby is lifting cause I like lifting with the boys and making gains. Also I like to eat with my friends."
Reported by Eduardo Rosas

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What made you go into Ballet Folklorico?
"I enjoy Ballet Folklorico because I like to experience new things. I wanted to try it and see if I liked it and I would always see how they would move their skirts. I've been wanting to do it since I was a little kid so ever since then I've been wanting to do it and I'm planning to do the three years I have left here at Rancho."
Reported by Julie Hernandez

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What's your biggest struggle in your life?
"My biggest struggle is my life is just finding out what career I want and to keep on working and working."
Reported by Devon Lott

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What's your favorite memory as a child?
"My favorite memory was to play with my dolls by myself because it relaxed me. I enjoyed it and I enjoyed being by myself."
Reported by Veronica Torres

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What do you want to do when you graduate high school and what do you want your career to be?
"When I graduate high school I want to travel the world. I don't really know what career I want to do yet, but I either want to become a photographer or do something that has to do with politics."
Reported by Adamarys Garcia

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How do you see yourself as a person? Who is your inspiration?
"Personally I see myself as a caring and determined person. My inspiration is my Mom. I don't have a specific person who has inspired me this year, but I've met people who have taught me a lot about myself and have helped me grow."
Reported by Edgar Molina

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What is your favorite memory from when you were a kid?
"My favorite memory of when I was a kid is when I was in Mexico and I would visit my grandma because my whole family was always there and we always had fun."
Reported by Adamarys Garcia

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"What made you get into band?"
"I like to write music and I like being part of the music instead of listening to it. I started to play the flute in 6th grade. My favorite song is called Heart Song. The band plays it but there is a part where I like to play by myself."
Reported by Julie Hernandez

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Why did you choose to be in drama and what do you do in drama?
"I chose to do drama because I enjoyed doing the plays and I wanted to be a better actor. In drama we improve on our acting skills and learn about the history of theater."
Reported by Selfida sanpedro

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What do you want to do after high school?
"I don't know. There's so many things I want to do that I just don't know what to choose yet."
Reported by Selfida Sanpedro

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Why did you decide to join band?
"I decided to join band because I'm in IB classes and they require an art class. I had to choose between film, drama, or band, so I took band. I play the tuba."
Reported by Selfida Sanpedro

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What are your favorite colors?

"I have four favorite colors- black, white, maroon, and navy blue."

Reported by Maritza Arrazola

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What is your favorite thing about being in drama?
"The family that was made within the drama class amongst the students and teachers."
Reported by Corey Craig

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What made you want to become a teacher? Has math always been your favorite subject?
"I wanted to become a teacher because I wanted to help people learn the subject that I really enjoyed doing which is math. I have always liked math and I think it's because of my dad who always pushed me to learn as much as I could when it came to math. I remember as a child my dad would always motivate me to practice my multiplication tables as much as I could and since then I started to really like math."
Reported by Adamarys Garcia

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Hey, who do you look up to?
"I look up to my mom because she has been through so much but has still managed to be strong."
Reported by Edgar Molina

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What is a favorite memory you have of your family?

“My favorite memory was about 25 years ago when I was at Moonlight Beach. I was sitting in a beach chair and the sun was just setting. There was a silhouette of my three kids playing in the water. I remember this moment because it was just a perfect day with no problems going on in life. I was just a wonderful day that I will never forget.”
Reported by Julius Butler

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How do you see yourself as a person?
"As a person I see myself as someone who is simple, honest and tries to do what's right."
Reported by Edgar Molina

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What advice would you like to give someone you care for?

"The advice I would give someone is “Listen to others, or they will not listen to you.” Basically it says to listen to what the people say, so in the future you could be heard."

Reported by Joanna Chavez

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Who is the biggest impact in your life?

“The biggest impact in my life is my wife. We’ve had three kids together and she’s always supported me in all my decisions that I’ve made. I don’t think I would be in the position I’m in right now if it wasn’t for her. You can say that I’m a pretty lucky guy.”

Reported by Julius Butler

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What's your favorite color?
"My favorite color is red blood."
Reported by Juan Jimenez

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What do you want to do in your future?
"I want to be a mechanic and fix cars. I want to be a mechanic because my dad does the same and I've been wanting to do this for two years and I hope I can make a living out of this job because I would really enjoy it."
Reported by Julie Hernandez

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What is your biggest fear?
"My biggest fear are spiders because they are scary and ugly looking."
Reported by Alan Cruz

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What is your happiest moment?

My happiest moment in my life so far was right now for this project. This is my happiest moment because I’m able to express my opinion for everyone in the school to see.”

Reported by Julius Butler

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What are you most thankful for?

“I’m most thankful for my family, friends and God. I’m thankful for them because they support me in every decision I make in life. They are the most important to me and make me happy.”

Reported by Julius Butler