What advice do you have for Joanna Alatorre, Damon Horton and Bryan Ordaz, the three students you met in this week's episode of SoCal Connected, Inside Locke High?
Locke High is notorious. It’s a school where students are more likely to drop out than graduate. Academically, Locke ranks third-lowest in the state. About 1 in 9 students scores grade-proficient in English. In Math, it’s 1 in 25. The chaotic campus sits in the midst of rival gang territory. Graffiti marred the halls. Fights broke out daily. Last year, nearly half of the 3-thousand-plus students were suspended at least once.
What words of wisdom (or caution, or encouragement, or....) do you want to give Joanna, Damon and Bryan? How would you suggest they navigate Locke? Give them your best; they'll be reading!
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Play sports, play videogames, be a nerd, do anything you love as much as possible. Keep your head down, don't fall for THE TRAP, for the streets. It's a losing game. And get out of the neighborhood as quickly as you can. You can always come back and visit for Thanksgiving.
Dear Joanna, Damon, and Bryan,
No matter how hard it gets, never give up--never give up. How would your loved ones, including those you've lost, feel, if they saw you give up? You owe it to them, or you owe it to yourselves . . . never give up.
My advice to them is to view the turned-around Locke system as a gift. It has their safety, their education and their future in mind...and it's free! They are some of the luckiest students in this country in that sense. Ask questions, ask for help...and soak up everything you can there.
I don't necessarily agree with a previous poster that they should get out of the neighborhood as quickly as they can...what if they love it there and they want to help turn it around? It's going to take the residents, the people on the inside, to lead that charge.
Future success for all of them, and all of us, is about education and doing what you love. I don't know what the library system is like at the school or in Watts, but spend a weekend afternoon roaming the shelves to see what section you get stopped in because you're thumbing through all the books. You might be surprised!
To my dear friends Damon, Bryan, and Joanna, when times get hard and it feels as if you can't get past them, just look to God for guidance. He will always be in your corner, especially when it feels like no one else is. Use the changes that Green Dot gave us to your advantage. Never give up, never give in. I love all of you and I believe in you all. Thanks for sharing your touching stories; they have made me view you all in a different light!
thas was a really tight video it show me more thing about this students that i didnt know... n it show how they are outgoing and they dont let nothing put them down on what they trying to achieve.....
this documentary made me realized that everyone in this world was difficulties and that no metter how bad is what you are going through you could overcome that problem.
If you keep trying and you don't give up you will achieve your goals and everything will be better.
Hey you guys, well I have seen your stories and I am very touched and surprised. I saw things about you guys that I was unaware of and I want to tell you guys to stay strong and advise you to stay that way until the end. Because you guys have had very powerful obstacles in your ways to succes and there might be some more in your future but you guys have stayed up there and fought for what you most desire. Keep that power in you and never let anything bring you down.
Joanna, Damon and Bryan, i had no idea these things were going on in your lives. But regardless what happens, just hang in there because if you stop and give up, the only one that will be affected is you. So do it for yourselves and your loved ones and strive to move forward.
Hey guyz... Everyone knows that the teenage years are super hard. Im going through some hard things myself. The only advice that i can give you is to keep your heads up. Whenever you guys need something just come to me and ill try to help you out. I better see you guys up in the stage with me!!! love you!!! class of 2009!!!! go locke!!
You three are incredible, and i'd like to do anything to help. I work at Warner Bros and would be happy to offer internships, or help finding a job, either on the movie or music side. My respect goes out to all of you for making it. You're an inspiration. You can reach me here, or ask the founder of Green Dot for my contact.
This comment Its for JoJo...It was nice to see Mr.Tan in this video with you. Sorry for your lost. But hope u learn from everything thats goes around you..Always belive in ur self and u'll get anywhere u set ur mind to.The key to life is have God in ur heart and belive in hem and everything would be good for u and ur family. Take care of ur self and see u @ shcool>
As Pac said, "keep ya head up". Know this...there are students who were at Locke when it was 100x worse than it is now who are at MIT, Berkeley, UCLA, and other top notch schools in this country. You have forebearers who paved the way for you. By now hopefully you know where you will be attending school in the fall. CONGRATS!
Never let anyone take your education away from you, no matter how much it cost. You will benefit forever. If you fall down, get up - each of you have it in you. I'm so glad the teachers who are still there (shout out to them!) are pushing you. Learn from them. Listen to them (and others). We've seen where you can be in 4-5 years and even 10 years from now. You can do it. Believe!
Thank you for sharing your stories with the world. You hopefully have opened the door for others to follow YOUR footsteps. - Peace