Former South High student David Garcia has had a lot to learn about life since graduating and working two jobs for an entire year to financially support himself while attending school.
Garcia said the biggest change he had to deal with was balancing everything without anyone having to tell him how.
Garcia explained that he needed to learn how to balance his time between work, school, himself and his social life. He added that he also had to learn when he could afford things, both monetary and nonfinancial, and when to ground himself and get to work.
Garcia’s advice to current South students is to “plan ahead to financially support yourself after high school.” He explained that whether you are going to college or not, you should plan where and how you are going to earn income. Garcia added that it is not necessarily important to know what career to pursue or to have your life planned out right away.
“My biggest takeaway would be to have an idea of how you’re going to make it to tomorrow, to the day after that or the end of the week,” Garcia said. “Not too far ahead, but enough to have in mind what you must do.”
South High teachers Rosario Nelson, Deana Colón, Bryan Herek and Maria Walinski-Peterson were the biggest influences on him. Garcia added that Colón had an amazing attitude and personality, both as a teacher and someone to talk to. Garcia explained that she helped expand his vocabulary and improve his word usage, and pushed him to try new things such as interviewing people. Because of this, Garcia said he ended up receiving requests to specifically write articles for The Tooter.
Both Herek and Walinski also made a major impact on Garcia mentally.
“The way they taught and explained things opened my eyes to many other meanings and helped me understand various viewpoints and how to actually grow,” he said.
Garcia said his band teacher, Nelson, had the biggest impact on him. Garcia said that she taught him “to always challenge myself and my talents and to really pursue my dream no matter what. She was always there when I needed to talk to someone, whether the subject was good or bad; she was always there.”
Another challenge Garcia has faced since graduating high school is realizing how much money is spent and how important balance is in everything. Garcia said he needs to find time to work, time to relax and, most importantly, quality time with his friends. He said he once believed this balance was impossible because scheduling was difficult, but once he found a rhythm, everything became much easier.
During his time at South High, Garcia said he enjoyed being able to see his friends consistently, even if it was not for anything major or just around the halls. Garcia added that he underappreciated his time in high school because he was used to seeing his friends every day, but after high school, balancing so many things at once really affected him and impacted his daily routine and lifestyle.
“It really is a drastic change, but I feel it’s necessary because you really find out who your closest friends are,” he said. “They’re the people who take time out of their schedules to respond to a text and ask how you’re doing. They’re the people who enjoy your presence and truly care for you.”
Garcia left the university after his first semester, and while it was a decision that took a lot of thought and consideration, he felt it was the most appropriate one for him.
Garcia ended by comparing his high school and college experiences.
“In high school, you’re mainly there because you have to be, and even though friends might make it go by faster and seem more enjoyable, it does not compare to the sense of care you feel in college,” he said. “You’re surrounded by people who have similar interests and who are there to learn with you. No one is forcing you to be there, and everyone sees each other as equals. Although it does get more difficult and much more independent, it still feels rewarding to be a part of it.”
