Student Spotlight: Franklin Velasquez

When Franklin Velasquez first showed up at Oakland International High School, he was seventeen, and had been out of school for a full year. He'd crossed into the US by himself, fleeing persecution in Guatemala, and spent a year working in day labor zones, doing gardening, construction, moving, and other irregular odd-jobs, while living with a distant relative. After a year of this, he was desperate to get back to school to continue his studies so he showed up at the front door late one August evening. "Can I come to school here?" he asked.

Though he wanted an education. "He was in office more than once last year talking about dropping out," recalls OIHS School Counselor, Elizabeth Paniagua. "But he's incredibly determined and perseverant. Now he is getting good grades, has applied to 4 year colleges, and is taking a community college class during the spring semester."

Franklin is now a leader in his class, a strong English speaker, and frequently helps other students. "I appreciate how kind he is and how he always comes into class and greets me, no matter how stressed out he is," says 12th Grade Career Readiness teacher, Ms. Liza. "He really engages in conversation with classmates."