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The Class of 2019: Remarkable Ventura County Graduates Triumph Over Adversity

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Summer 2019
Stanley C. Mantooth, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
The Class of 2019
Remarkable Ventura County Graduates Triumph Over Adversity
For some students, high school graduation is a given. Others face a variety of obstacles that can put a diploma out of reach, no matter how badly they want it. Family troubles, substance abuse and growing difficulties surrounding immigration are some of the roadblocks a surprising number of local teens must navigate on the road to graduation.
But for nearly every challenge, there is a student who has found the inner strength to persevere. In this edition of Focus on Education, we’re excited to introduce you to local graduates who have overcome barriers – some large, some small – to earn their high school diplomas. In many cases, they credit a caring teacher, counselor or administrator who went out of their way to make a difference. And while all of these students have different stories, they each possess a drive to succeed and a love of learning that will take them far and make us all very proud.
Stan Mantooth
Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
Alex Gonzalez had just started his freshman year at Simi Valley High School when he found out his mom, dad and little sister would all be leaving the country while he stayed behind and lived at a friend’s house. It was part of the process for his mom to become a US resident and it was only supposed to last for three weeks.
Amara Baker’s road to high school graduation has been anything but ordinary. Her journey has taken her from Santa Susana High School to an international school in Italy to a year of home schooling and finally to one of Ventura County’s most unusual public high schools.
Sowon Lee’s lucky number came up four years ago when she was selected to attend Foothill Technology High School in Ventura. Admission to Foothill is through a random lottery and there are always more students who want to attend than spots available.
Mauricio Gonzalez’s father earns a living picking crops and his mom cleaning hotel rooms. It’s hard work that’s paying off as they prepare to watch their son graduate from Santa Paula High School and enroll at one of the nation’s top universities.
Technology and art are two of Sabrina Stone’s biggest passions. As a student at Oak Park High School, she found a way to combine those interests along with her desire to encourage more girls to pursue careers in technology.
Angeles Montalvo was fifteen years old when her father was kidnapped and robbed near their home in Mexico. That prompted her parents to make the difficult decision to uproot the family and relocate to Oxnard.
Bouncing from welding and auto body classes to AP and honors courses is all in a typical week for Maxim Yalch. The Thousand Oaks High School senior will be attending Cal Lutheran in the fall, but being on the college track didn’t stop him from taking advantage of career-related classes in subjects he’s passionate about.
It was her sophomore year at Adolfo Camarillo High School and things weren’t going well for Bethany Ochoa. Difficulties in her personal life had her struggling with depression, getting involved with drugs and ditching class. The idea of graduating from high school seemed like an impossible dream.