More of 13 years have passed since Danny Gómez and Yahir Flores first appeared in a classroom and since then, they have never missed school.
Therefore, This week, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recognized them for their commitment and responsibility to education.
Both students, who completed their high school studies with impressive averages, they spoke with Real America News about how they managed to be part of the select group of students, who managed to finish classes with perfect attendance from kindergarten to grade 12, from a group of 28,
“From an early age my parents taught me the value of education, they told me that every day I go to school. I’m closer to achieving my goals and that if I didn’t attend, I was going to fall behind, “said Danny, who graduated with honors from Downtown Magnets High School last Thursday.
His father, Felipe Gómez, shared that both he and his wife Eulalia García are happy and proud of the achievements of their children, since their first-born, Guadalupe Gómez, also obtained perfect attendance.
“I feel very happy, it is a pride what they have achieved … I in my country could not achieve my dreams, I could only finish high school and then I had to come here to work, ”explained the Mexican who works as a packer. “But I always dreamed of having two children and giving them every opportunity.”
Danny will follow in the footsteps of his older sister, who graduated from UCLA in sociology; the young man will attend the same university, but will study the career of
physiology.
” I was privileged to have multiple schools to choose from, but in the end, it came down to which school seemed the most financially reasonable, which was UCLA. I didn’t want to borrow and be a burden to my parents. They gave me admission to Brown University, where I would have loved to attend, “shared the young man who took advanced classes in high school.
” Despite my efforts to apply for scholarships, I was unable to attend that school [Brown], but I am so proud to be a part of the class of at UCLA. ”
His main goal is to become a doctor to support low-income communities and support the working class.
“I know the burdens that come with high medical bills and parents who never want to miss a day of work despite being injured, I want to be a helping hand for parents don’t suffer with high bills and be treated well. ”
Danny’s high school principal, Dr. Sara Usmani, commented on her impressions of the young Mexican-American’s achievements .
“Of the many young people I meet every year, Danny impresses me a lot, he has the d not to just show up every day during their 13 years of school , but is also able to maintain his learning spark on each of those days, ”he said.
The student also shared that having perfect attendance was not always a easy mission, but his objectives were clear.
“Of course there were days when I didn’t feel like 100 percent, whether I was feeling tired or sick, but I didn’t let it be an excuse for my absence [en clases], I know in the near future there will be much more difficult challenges and each one I overcome will give me more strength ”, he affirmed.
Danny attended all of his classes since kindergarten.
Perseverance and responsibility
Yahir Flores was also recognized for completing 13 years d and education without any absences, the young man said that although sometimes he was ill, he felt that his commitment and responsibility was to attend classes.
“There were times when I got sick during school days and when that happened, I still went to school… And there were times when I didn’t want to go to school, then my parents motivated me to make the effort to go and do my best ”, said the young man who graduated with honors from Thomas Jefferson High School.
Thanks to his qualifications, Yahir will study mechanical engineering at the University of California Santa Barbara.
The parents, Camila Fuentes and Alfonso Flores, assured that they are very happy for the achievements of the young man.
“We are proud that he had perfect attendance,” said the mother of the adolescent of 17 years.
Yahir jokes and says that although It is difficult to wake up in the morning he is grateful to his family for supporting him and injecting encouragement during 12 years.
“I am very proud to have attended school every day and I owe it to my parents and my sister for motivating me and waking me up every days, I know I’m not the easiest person to wake up, so it’s both your achievement and mine, ”he concluded.
