Give People Hope
Lesson #9 from “Make Your Bed”
Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Retired)
I struggle with the month of June. Although I recall and celebrate the anniversary of My First Holy Communion in 1963 I also recall the bomb drills in 3rd grade that meant crawling under our desks. I recall the day my teacher Miss Farritor, a wonderful woman of Irish descent broke down as we quietly walked down the stairs to the grassy area in front the auditorium as the flag was lowered for President John F. Kennedy who had been assassinated. The country was devastated.
Today is June 6th - the 53rd Anniversary of the assassination of his younger brother, my hero, Senator Robert “Bobby” Kennedy. I was in the 8th grade and inspired by the speeches of this man who gave us all such hope. Here I am in San Diego at the home of my friend where I can look out the window and in the distance, see the prison where his assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, lives. Why am I here in this place and on this day? Perhaps to recall our past while considering today’s world and how they are so closely connected and how some things never change - fear, hate and loss.
June has also been designated PRIDE Month and while I celebrate with other family and friends, I am left still with the hole in my heart, aching for my baby brother. Ralph Ybarra, my precious little brother was a gay Latino man who had such hope things would change and he could live a life of peace. But instead he suffered numerous acts of violence that ultimately led to his death at the hands of someone filled with fear and hate.
June is a time for celebration of Fathers everywhere and while I celebrate the many great fathers, mine is missing along with my Mother. My Mother passed on June 10, 1997 and my Father on June 18, 1999, both forever changed with the murder of their son. However, it is their spirit and the many lessons they taught us in loving, caring and forgiving one another that STILL GIVES ME HOPE. Hope for better days.
In his book, Make Your Bed, Admiral William H McRaven, speaks to us about his experiences as a Navy Seal where one of the important lessons he imparts speaks to HOPE. He talks about the many funeral services he attended and his friendship with Marine Lieutenant John Kelly…
Without ever knowing it, John Kelly gave all those around him hope. Hope that in the very worst of times we could rise above the pain, the disappointment, and the agony and be strong. That we each had within us the ability to carry on and not only to survive but also to inspire others…Hope is the most powerful force in the universe. With hope you can inspire nations to greatness. With hope you can raise up the downtrodden. With hope you can ease the pain of unbearable loss. Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference…We will all find ourselves neck deep in mud someday. That is the time to sing loudly, to smile broadly, to lift up those around you and GIVE THEM HOPE that tomorrow will be a better day.
We live in tumultuous times and yet in spite of the fear, the hate and in what would seem insurmountable, impossible and only a dream - there was hope. In this issue beyond all fear and hate, three remarkable young students gathered their grit and accomplished their dream of college and a career and most importantly a life lived in giving others hope. I present to you Mabel Munoz, Ingrid Tay and Juan Amaya of the 2008 AGUILA Cohort. They make my June bearable - they give me “...hope that tomorrow will be a better day.”
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From Center for Disease Control(CDC):
Key Things to Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
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You may have side effects after vaccination, but these are normal.
- It typically takes two weeks after you are fully vaccinated for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19.
How to Protect Yourself When Going Out
· Wear a mask that covers your mouth AND nose to help protect yourself and others.
· Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
· Avoid crowds.
· Avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
If You are at Risk of Getting Very Sick
· People of any age can get COVID-19, even healthy young adults, and children.
· People who are older or have certain underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
· Other groups may be at higher risk for getting COVID-19 or having a more severe illness.
What to Do If You're Sick
· STAY HOME except to get medical care.
· Isolate yourself from other members of your family to prevent spread to them and the people that they may have contact with, like grandparents.
· Even if you don’t feel sick, you can spread COVID-19 to others.
· Get care immediately if you are having emergency warning signs, like trouble breathing, pain or pressure in the chest.
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Ingrid Tay was part of the 2008 Aguila cohort. She attended Carl Hayden High School where she was involved in numerous clubs including the National Honors Society and the Falcon Robotics Team. She was part of the team that presented in front of a panel of judges and helped win the most prestigious award in the Worldwide FIRST Robotics Competition, the Chairman’s Award. She graduated salutatorian of her class and received enough funding through scholarships to attend Arizona State University. While at ASU she continued being involved in student organizations including Tau Beta Pi, The Engineering Honor Society, STEP Multicultural Honor Society, Society of Women Engineers, and the Society of Hispanic Engineers among others. She received her Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) with Magna Cum Laude honors. In 2013 she co-founded Building Dreams, an organization that introduces children to robotics and engineering. Ingrid along with the children of the Building Dreams program were featured in the Underwater Dreams documentary that received national attention. She continues to be involved in her community and frequently volunteers at various robotics competitions throughout the state. This past year she was the South Mountain Tournament Director for the FIRST Lego League here in Arizona where she was in charge of putting together a one day robotics event for about 32 robotics teams for children in grades 4 through 8th. Ingrid earned her M.B.A at Grand Canyon University in December 2020. During the pandemic, she spent her free time helping develop a curriculum for an adult ESL school to transition to online learning. She now works at Microchip Technology Incorporated and is in charge of the team that helps bridge the gap between engineering and sales. |
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Mabel Munoz is an AGUILA Alumni from the 2008 Cohort. She was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and moved to the US when she was 8 years old. In 2004 she graduated from Alfred F. Garcia School as Valedictorian and in 2008 graduated from Carl Hayden High School as Valedictorian. Because she was undocumented, she did not receive full-ride scholarships that most valedictorians are awarded. Fortunately, organizations like AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute, Manzana Foundation, Chicanos Por La Causa, Hispanic Mother Daughter Program, and Pathways to Success provided private scholarships allowing her to pursue her dream of higher education. She attended Gateway Community College obtaining her Associate in Art and Associate in Science. In 2012, she graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering.
While in college, she was a Spanish Medical Interpreter at the Wesley Clinic and started her own non-profit robotics organization. Fast-forward a few years, she is now a Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist at Becton Dickinson where she feels she has the coolest job. She explains that that her position in Regulatory Affairs is in the medical field and is somewhat like a combination of lawyer and engineer. In her position she learns about the technical aspects of medical devices and the regulations in countries to obtain approval of medical devices specific to those countries. Mabel is responsible for obtaining approval for medical products for Latin America. She works with local engineers in the US to learn about the products, putting together reports that are presented to coworkers in Latin American countries like Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. Together, the team strategizes ways in which to submit the best possible application to the country’s Ministry of Health. She explains the amazing feeling every time a medical device is approved in any country that will help someone’s quality of life. She also loves the opportunity to travel to other countries or to the yearly conferences in different states of the US that allow her to learn about different cultures and talking to coworkers from all over the world.
Looking back at her college experiences, and lack of, she advises students not to be afraid to explore. College is about exploring and she encourages Aguilitas to explore new clubs, change majors if you do not feel the fit, take travel opportunities, network and live your best years. Grades are important but know that your employer will also value your experiences.
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I was brought to the United States at age 7. That’s also when I met my parents for the first time. Being a Latino immigrant and growing up in San Jose, California, it was very easy to be attracted to gangs. I flirted with local gangs until the age of 15 after realizing that gangs were only a destructive path for me and it was not a path that my parents deserved or one that they would be proud of.
We left California when I was 16 chasing my parents’ dream of purchasing a home; a dream they thought would be more achievable in Arizona. This was a great move for me because it helped in turning my life around; I started to focus on being a good son, and a good student. I was able to find love, support and care from AGUILA. Not only that, but AGUILA helped me discover an untapped desire for a higher education, something that hadn’t really crossed my mind.
Just as things seem to be going in the right direction, Arizona passed the Job Sanction Law. My parents lost their jobs and their home. They decided to go back to California and I stayed in Arizona on my own. I was left in a very difficult position; on one hand I could not count on the financial support of my parents and by the time I graduated high school, Proposition 300 had made me ineligible for the merit based scholarships I would qualify for.
Feeling a bit defeated, I had decided to leave to California as well. Thankfully with the help of AGUILA and its guidance, I was awarded the CPLC American Dream Fund Scholarship just weeks before I had planned to leave to California. I was overjoyed to now be able to afford and attend ASU. College turned out to be a very rigorous and tough experience. I had to be a full time student to keep my scholarship and a have a full time job to survive.
Years in university were very hard; I had many sleepless nights. I had lots of stress and frustration knowing that work interfered with any study sessions with my peers. I also lived in constant fear that one day I could get pulled over for a broken taillight and be deported. The only thing that kept me going was the guidance from Mrs. H, and the help of my then girlfriend Angelica Hernandez.
My life has been an entire life lesson. I have learned to be persistent when it comes to fulfilling my dreams, and through that I have built character. I graduated in December of 2012 as a Civil Engineer. I now work as an engineer at a major highway construction company. I married a smart beautiful woman (Angelica Hernandez), who has given me the best gift and blessing; our daughter. I am living a happy life filled with more dreams and aspirations. My happily ever after ending is due largely in part to the great help and guidance from Mrs. H, the life changing AGUILA Program, and CPLC for supporting my education though the American Dream Fund Scholarship. They helped me through university and by domino effect I became an engineer, met my wife and now am so fortunate to have a beautiful daughter.
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Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private non-profit student-centered University that is committed to cultivating diverse health professional leaders who are dedicated to social justice and health equity for underserved populations through outstanding education, research, clinical service, and community engagement
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Pathway Faculty Spotlight |
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As a second generation Phoenician Mr. John Ojeda is a graduate of the Phoenix Union High School District. John holds a Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University, Bachelor of Science in Applied Management from Grand Canyon University, Associates of Applied Science in Leadership from Rio Salado Community College, and Associates of Arts in General Studies from Phoenix College.
Professionally Mr. Ojeda is an experienced Community Engagement Manager with a demonstrated history as a 21-year public servant for the City of Phoenix. He is skilled in Team Motivation, Government, Event Management, Volunteer Management, and Strategic Partnerships. John has worked in a variety of city departments including the Municipal Court, Neighborhood Services, Housing, Aviation, and the Equal Opportunity Department. John led the Contract Compliance team at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. He managed more than $137 million dollars for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (Construction and Professional Services), Small Business Enterprise Program (Construction) and the Airport Concession Disadvantaged Enterprise Program (Retail and Food/Beverage). For more than 17 years John managed the Business Section of the citywide Equal Opportunity Business Plan. In his most current position Mr. Ojeda served as the staff liaison to the Phoenix Women’s Commission, the Phoenix Human Relations Commission, and the Mayor’s Commission for Disability Issues. John also owns and operates a small business specializing in special events.
John is a dedicated mentor investing in our future one youth at a time. “Service Above Self,” is how he lives daily
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Storytime was designed to inspire young children through that seed planted so long ago by Mary Gonzales Ybarra, Mrs. H's mother. Visit our website for more information to include dates/times for AGUILA Storytime and enjoy the journey through the love of reading.
Storytime this month will be on June 23rd from 6PM-7PM (AZ). Register on our website or watch the live stream on our Facebook!
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In AGUILA we believe that "You must know where you come from in order to know where you are going." AGUILA students participate in the AGUILA Oral History Project developed by Dr. Christine Marin/ASU Emeritus where they research their family to discover upon whose shoulders they stand. The project instills a sense of self, belonging and pride as motivation and inspiration in pursuit of their college education with greater FUERZA (force). The AGUILA StoryTELLING project is an extension of the student assignment providing additional stories told by individuals from across the country and from different backgrounds. Our first event was held on March 31, 2021 in honor of Cesar Chavez's Birthday and Women's Herstory Month featuring stories told by 5 amazing women from Arizona, Washington, Texas and Indiana. In April we featured brothers, Danny and David Diaz along with Thomas Valles - the original runners from McFarland High School who were portrayed in one of AGUILA's favorite movies - McFarland, USA. The theme for April's Storytelling was "Preparing for the Race" that focused on setting your goals. The McFarland Team will be back to kick-off our 2021-2022 year helping us to motivate and inspire our students. Stay tuned.
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SEUSS-ISMS! - A guide to Life for Those Just Starting Out…and Those Already on Their Way.
Dr. Seuss
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better it’s not.”
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You can help us make a difference in the lives of a growing number of students who aspire to create change through education. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and is tax-deductible. |
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