Hollister resident Charlie Alejo is one student who is proud to be graduating with the rest of his class next week after he transformed a 0.5 GPA at the end of junior year to A’s and B’s this semester.
The Association of California School Administrators earlier this month recognized the high school senior as the “Every Student Succeeds” scholar. The senior also received the “Most Improved” student honor at a high school rally last month.
“My whole school career has been bad grades,” Alejo said. “I don’t come from a healthy background.”
Alejo has been in the county’s foster care program since he was age 11 and bounced through various foster homes and schools before settling at San Benito High School. It was the first time he spent four consecutive years on one campus.
Alejo’s hard work impressed so many people, it even reached the ears of the county Superintendent Mark Sanchez, who sat at his table for the ACSA awards ceremony. Sanchez mentioned the student’s achievements at the May 8 county school board meeting.
“I heard his story and some of the things he was saying and he was awarded for really just taking his life and turning it around,” said Sanchez, who praised the pupil but didn’t mention his name.
The “Every Student Succeeds” award recognizes students who have overcome obstacles, which include improving attendance, leaving a gang, returning to school, changing their attitude or overcoming physical or mental barriers.
Alejo was awarded for overcoming foster care and a complicated upbringing, and for changing the one thing he could control – his attitude.
With grades on the brink of F’s and D’s at the end of his first semester of senior year, Alejo decided to give school his full attention by turning in late work and participating in class discussions.
“I really didn’t want to fail any classes and I wanted to graduate on time,” Alejo said.
With only a few weeks left of the first semester, Alejo began studying frantically for the final exams – the only way he could lift his grades above failing in his English and government classes.
After hours of studying, Alejo passed his finals and every single one of his classes.
Alejo celebrated briefly, then hit the books again this semester. He has an A in English class, the same course he nearly failed in the first half of the school year.
“We’re really proud of him,” said Krystal Lomanto, the principal. “He did well all semester and he’s just flown since then.”
Alejo will graduate with the rest of his peers June 6. Thanks to his passing grades, Alejo is now planning to continue his studies at Gavilan Community College, where he will study business and marketing starting this fall.
“I guess you learn from mistakes,” said Alejo, as he reflected on his change of heart. “I didn’t want to make them again.”
