Posted inEducation

Cross Country: Fueled by Sweat, Driven by Passion 

MaryJane by MaryJane

Cross Country is a sport where individuals run on open-air courses; runners typically run between eight and ten kilometers. Cross Country is a very demanding sport. To junior Ronaldo Ramirez, cross country means much more than running. 

Ramirez previously ran cross country for Juarez-Lincoln High School during his freshman and sophomore years, but since then decided to make the change to run at Palmview High School.

“As much as I enjoyed running for Juarez, I knew that running at Palmview would make me stronger,”  Ramirez said.

Ramirez doesn’t associate cross country with just running but as a way to escape.

“School stresses me out; people stress me out. Having cross country allows me to put all that behind me and take it out on the track,” Ramirez said. “If I’m having a rough day, I’ll run further than I usually do.”

Ramirez has been running for over six years and typically runs with his little sister, Dolores. Dolores is a JCECHS freshman who participates in cross country and track for Palmview High School. 

“I enjoy running with my sister because we run the same sport, so it builds our connection. In fact, we have the closest connection between all my siblings,” Ramirez said. 

Sibling rivalry is common when participating in the same sport, but not for these two. 

“I don’t like to think of running against her, more of running for her. I get to be her mentor rather than her competitor,” Ramirez said.

His family are his main supporters, and Ramirez credits his passion to them. 

“I know most kids don’t have the luxury of saying that their parents are as invested in their athletics as mine are, so I take the time to recognize them,” Ramirez said.

There is no meet that Ramirez can imagine himself at without the support from his family.

Posted inStaff Profile, Education

Her journey to becoming a Criminal Justice Teacher.

Abigail C by Abigail C

Criminal Justice Teacher Marybelle Salinas explains her struggles while aiming to receive her Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

She has been fascinated by the background of the Criminal Justice Field, and what motivated her more to join was that she is a woman.

“I guess what motivated me more was just being a female and just trying to break those stereotypes of a male-dominated field and that women too can be successful in the criminal justice field,” said Salinas.

She graduated from Texas State with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law Enforcement in 2004. Still, the journey to her master’s degree was an overextended challenge until recently.

“I was married, had three children, and had a full-time job, so it was kinda hard to find a balance between my life, my daily life, and finding time for school,” Salinas said.

She has overcome her work and daily life challenges and joined Jimmy Carter ECHS as a special education teacher in 2007.

“I kinda was testing the field here as far as, do I wanna teach or no? and 17 years later, I’m still here,” Salinas said.

Today, Salinas handles multiple teaching preparations, including Reading and Criminal Justice classes.

“Sometimes it’s a nice break from trading from Criminal justice to reading, but it’s been a challenge to juggle and manage both,” said Salinas.

Salinas admits that moving back and forth between her assignments has made her feel like she is stumbling at times, but she admires how students learn information from both courses that they can apply in the real world.

Even though Salinas has struggled with many challenges throughout the years, she has accomplished all her goals and has done a successful job as a Criminal Justice Teacher.

Posted inEducation

Agustin Arias: Let’s find your X

Karyme by Karyme

Agustin Arias: Let’s find your X

Agustin Arias Jr. is a team player, ready to help with problems. 

Arias has taught since 2005 and teaches AP Calculus,  Algebra, Pre-Cal, and a college math course for future math teachers. 

 Arias did not plan to become a math teacher; he went to school for computer science, where he took several math courses. After graduating college, Arias found it hard to get a job in computer science, leading him to become a substitute.   

“There was an opening, somebody else leaving, and then, you know, I kind of thought, why not?” Arias said. “Let me try it.”  

In addition to being a math teacher, Arias is certified to teach technology applications and computer science. Unknown to many, Arias has a counseling certification. 

“There’s a lot of stuff that people go through, a lot of stuff that we don’t see, and we kind of maybe just take for granted,” Arias said. “We should be more empathetic and understand others.”

While Arias is not a counselor, he was interested in becoming a full-time counselor at some point but did not pursue it, though he believes it helps when it comes to teaching. 

“I think it does help you become a little bit more empathetic and understanding toward other people and more patient,” Arias said. “It felt good to make a difference when you talk to somebody and see that they’re learning and feeling better about themselves.”

Senior Joemy Salazar said that Arias has such a good vibe and can relate to students because he has been in the same position and knows what students are going through.  

Arias likes to think he has impacted his students, especially those who stay connected after graduation. 

“A lot of time, you can tell by how they treat you,” Arias said. “You’re not gonna connect with everybody, right, but I feel like I have.” 

Senior Francisca Ortiz said that Arias is trustworthy, so she and other seniors know that if they have a concern or need someone to talk to, Arias is one of the teachers they could attend.