SBHS alumni speak to students on success

By JACOB LOPEZ Career-Day
Editor
Editor@sbnewspaper.com

Four successful San Benito High School alumni spoke at a special career day presentation on Monday afternoon. Talking to a room full of juniors and seniors, the four explained their backgrounds in law, medicine and education.

Dr. Ricardo Garcia Jr., DO, showed students that success is within their grasp.

Dr. Garcia, an SBHS graduate, explained that an average of 15 years school and education is common for becoming a doctor, “it’s not unusual to be into your 30s when you become a doctor.”

He focused on the importance of hard work, aside from his several years of school, Garcia works 70-80 hours a week. “I’m just learning right now, basically,” he told the students.

The audience of teenagers on the path to high school graduation listened carefully as the doctor told them to cooperate with their teachers, “Your teachers are here to work hard for you guys – in return, work hard for them.”

Michael Vargas, who has a Master’s in education, and graduated from San Benito High School told students to find a niche in order to stay competitive. He said that while some may not yet know what career path they want to pursue, it’s important they find an area to specialize in.

“I came back to San Benito,” he said, “to help make it better than it was before I was here.”

Carol Sanchez, is an attorney at law and a 2005 SBHS graduate.

She said, students must “Think bigger.”

Often, Sanchez said, “you think of San Benito as a small city.” It’s worth students getting “out of that mindset,” she explained.

Pharmacist Michael Garcia, who happens to Dr. Garcia’s brother, spoke to the students about how closely pharmacists must work with the doctors to ensure proper medications are administered.

Sandra Ruiz, Higher Education Coordinator for SBHS, said that she’d spoken with Dr. Garcia shortly before the Christmas holidays. He expressed an interest in arranging for a group of his friends to speak to students who are now preparing for college.

Ruiz said that the goal was to get students to look into some of the various fields they can enter, “medical, pharmacy, law and education.”

If there is one thing that she wants the students to take out of this it’s that, “it’s always great to see these students who went and got these higher degrees.” They are “very selective programs,” she said, and it’s “wonderful for our current students to see that it is within the realm of possibility … (and) dream big.”

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2015/02/17/sbhs-alumni-speak-to-students-on-success/

8 comments

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    • Check your facts on February 24, 2015 at 9:33 pm
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    @agree…The alumni presentation took place 4 days before he announced his school board bid. Place check your facts before you rant!

    • Juan on February 24, 2015 at 8:05 pm
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    Question for “Concerned Parent”, did you go to school here in San Benito,and if so did you actually graduate ?

    • private on February 24, 2015 at 9:00 am
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    Really “Concerned Parent” this is as low as it gets? Michael Vargas has an IVY LEAGUE EDUCATION! Most of the board members currently serving don’t have an education. I think the purpose of the presentation was to show how this kid from San Benito went on to on Ivy League school and now has a successful career in education. The purpose was to motivate not encourage students to attend Idea. More people like him that leave and come back to serve their community should talk to students and encourage them to go to college. Shame on you!

    • Rosalinda G. Garcia on February 24, 2015 at 6:49 am
    • Reply

    To the SB alumni that spoke to students: Awesome! I bet your families are so proud! Thanks for taking the time to come and participate in the career day.

    And to Sandra Ruiz, High Education Coordinator, continue to hold these great events. Your dedication and efforts are appreciated.

    A big congratulations to these SB alumni on becoming successful role models!

    Thanks for reading my blog.

    Rosalinda G. Garcia

  1. I agree with” concerned parent” it’s pathetic that they allow Tumberlison’s puppets run around our school district politicking. It’s just a coincidence that this guy announced his running for school board than his selected to be an ” alumni speaker”, please we’re not that gullible. Tumberlison’s are going to have to spend a lot of money to win this election. It’s called PAY TO PLAY, something they do very well.. Eyes will be wide open this election so start flashing the money…

  2. Does anyone screen ” alumni speakers” before they speak to our children? I have a concern with one of the honorary speakers Michael Vargas. Apparently, his an Assistant Principle at Idea Schools District. How can we have someone talk to our children about education and success when this guys main job is to recruit kids to Idea. Idea spends more time belittling school districts like ours, so they can encourage kids to enroll with them. To make matters worse, this guy is running for school board in our town, seriously. What a joke… The Tumberlinson’s have no shame nor respect for our school district because of them and the candidates they push is the main reason were in this mess. People, this is as low has it gets if we allow this Michael Vargas and Idea assistant principle get elected. There’s a major conflict of interest here but it up you to decide. The jokes on you!!! Remember we need to vote for a better future for our children not continue to ruin our district.

      • Jenny on February 23, 2015 at 10:58 am
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      Unless you were there for the presentation, you should really refrain from criticism and avoid making this yet another political issue. YOU should be grateful that these busy professionals took time out of their day to inspire our children to pursue a higher education. With the frequent negative press San Benito receives, we should embrace these positive interactions within our schools and be grateful that the students have these alumni as role models. It is sad to see that a “Concerned Parent” is jaded enough to criticize the individuals that are attempting to help San Benito’s future generation.

      • Triple P on February 23, 2015 at 8:06 pm
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      Concerned Parent:

      “conflict of interest”? 1) SBCISD employees can not be school board members. 2) Based on previous and prior board members, profession and education backgrounds are irrelevant to holding a place on the board. 3) Why didn’t you add Yliana to your “Concerned Parent” rant? She works for another school (district) and that school (district) is outside of San Benito.

      My point is your rant has no point or worth.

      Sounds more like you are anti-Vargas because you are anti-BobT instead of because you are a “Concerned Parent”.

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