Red Gold News

Joel Carrasco is no stranger to the requirements being a student-athlete comes with. Carrasco prioritizes his commitment into his true passions even with a busy schedule including school, work, and soccer. 
His way of managing himself emphasizes perfectly the importance of prioritization and time management.
“Every morning, I wake up, get ready for school, then I go to practice, and after practice, I go to work,” he shared. “After that, I get home, start doing my homework, shower, and then go to sleep.” 
His ability to follow a structured cycle weekly shows his dedication to both athletics and academics. 
Carrasco ensures he prioritizes education despite his busy schedule. While soccer is his hobby, he’s sure of what will benefit him the most in the long run. 
“I always put my education first before anything,” he stated. 
His academic motivation comes by maintaining a strong academic record, while his athletic drive reaches the desire for improvement.
“What motivates me to excel in my academics is to maintain a high profile in my scholar record, and then for sports, it is just to be better,” he said. 
To be successful he believes time management is a crucial skill for a student-athlete to be successful. 
“What makes a student-athlete successful is that they learn how to develop and manage their responsibilities and their time,” he states.
The most rewarding part of being a student-athlete for Carrasco goes beyond the sport. 
“Everything that it helps you learn, how to balance everything, the experiences you gain along the way, and who you get to share it with, is the best part,” he shares.
With many responsibilities, maintaining focus is crucial. Carrasco handles this by addressing one task at a time. 
“I stay focused by starting to separate my specific responsibilities, prioritizing what I need to do at one time and then another time,” he explained.
Even on overwhelming days, he comes through by using a simple but effective strategy.
“I try to relax and not think too much about everything.”. 
Carrasco shows his dedication to sustaining a balance between two different worlds. His story is one of discipline and determination, serving as an inspiration for other individuals aiming to succeed in classrooms and on the field. 

Karen waits impatiently at home for her parents, unsure if it’ll be the last time they see each other. Deportation isn’t just a legal policy; it’s an issue that affects communities, families, and individuals daily.
Sonia Hernandez, a professional high school social worker, has proper insight and knowledge on this topic as it has become more common. Her perspective is important because she’s involved in students’ legal and emotional matters.
“When parents are deported, their children are left behind without that critical support. I’ve had students come to me, scared about what might happen to their families. Even if they are legally here, they worry about their parents.” Hernandez said. 
Thoughts regarding the separation of families influence students negatively. It alters their sense of security, as well as their ability to concentrate on daily activities.
Hernandez explained that beyond the emotional burden, deportation also brings financial hardship.
“If the deported family member was the main provider, the family is left struggling. There are support systems available, but many are too scared to seek help.”
Individuals facing these struggles stand in a vulnerable position of losing everything they have worked for. They stand in a fearful position, causing them not to want to draw attention to legal matters, it’llwhich will only make their situation worse. This leaves them with limited options like staying silent, avoiding medical checkups, or staying in an unsafe living environment.
Hernandez also emphasized the misunderstandings surrounding this topic add to the complexity.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty about what will happen. As a social worker, I encourage students to plan ahead—who they would stay with, what documents they need, and who they can turn to for help.”
In addition, Juan Hernandez, a Junior, shared his experiences with misconceptions about this topic.
“People think deportation only happens to those who look a certain way, but that’s not true. Even people who don’t fit the stereotype can be undocumented.”
This reality hits close to home for Juan as his family has been under threats involving separation. So he decided to share his grandmother’s outlook.
“She says she’s not scared. She tells me if they take her, so be it. I’ve already decided—I’m going with her no matter what.”
For Juan, it’s more than a news headline; it’s a reality that could potentially change his lifestyle overnight. 
While deportation is an action to enforce the country, there are ways to approach it humanely. Juan mentions officers should be more empathetic.
“They don’t have to be so aggressive. At the end of the day, these are human beings just trying to live their lives.”
Finally, Hernandez stated the importance of support from the community.
“Awareness is key. More people need to step up and support these families, whether it’s legal aid, financial help, or just being there for them.”
Communities hold the power to change the perception of deportation. By respecting the dignity of those affected, we can reduce the degrading impact it has on individuals.