STANWOOD — Alex Avalos, 18, is a senior at Lincoln Hill High School, the alternative campus in Stanwood.
Question: What’s your plan for after high school?
Answer: I’m still not 100 percent sure, but I’d like to study engineering or criminal justice.
Q: Do you have a favorite class right now?
A: I have to go with math and English. They’re kind of tough, but I know that’s what’s going to take me to the next step.
Q: What do you do after school?
A: I take care of my little brother a lot. He’s turning four. I’ve taken care of him since he was a baby … I like to watch sports and I like to have conversations with my dad about the future, about college, about what I want to study.
Q: What does your dad do?
A: He works for Draper Valley Farms. We actually live on their farms. We’ve been living there for 18 years.
Q: Have you grown up doing farm chores?
A: A lot of landscaping. We have about three acres around the house. I help a lot with that. We have some cows, too.
Q: Did you make any goals for senior year?
A: This is a big year for me. I came in behind in credits, so I just told myself this is the year I come to school every day, get As and Bs and just catch up, and ask a lot of questions of my teachers so I can get as much advice as possible for my college (plans).
Q: Are you meeting that goal?
A: Yes, I was on the Honor Roll this past quarter. That was a huge accomplishment for me because I’ve never received an award like that in my school career. I kept my GPA over 3.0, so As and Bs.
Q: What are some of your goals for life after high school?
A: I want to be happy because I know that’s tough to do. I want to push myself to the best of my ability and just continue to go as far as possible in life. I have a lot of dreams. I want to go to college. I’d like to one day just have a family and be happy. I don’t want money to be an issue. I just want to work hard enough to make enough for my family and have a nice home.
Q: What is your escape from the stress of classes?
A: Just having conversations with my dad (Rafael Avalos). My dad is a huge mentor of mine.
Q: Do you feel like you have to be a role model for your younger siblings?
A: That’s also a big reason why I work so hard at school, to show my sister, who’s in sixth grade right now, that she can also make it through high school. I do this for myself but I also do it for my siblings. My first semester freshman year I failed all of my classes. I just treated school like it was nothing.
Q: What changed for you?
A: There was one day the counselor down at Stanwood (High School) called me to her office. She told me how important credits were and how important it was to pass the exams. Since that day, it just gave me a spark. I haven’t failed a class since.
Q: Do you plan to return to Stanwood High? You mentioned that the counselor said you could.
A: Ever since I came here (to Lincoln Hill), I’ve just received all the help and support I need. This is where I see myself graduating in June.
Q: Did you do anything cool this past summer?
A: I actually got to go to Guadalajara, that’s in Mexico, to visit my grandparents. They’re that age, they’re kind of sick, so it was a blessing to see them another year. That was the first time I’ve gone since 2010.
Q: Is there anything else you want people to know about you?
A: I’m really quiet here at school. I’ve always been like that, my whole life, just really shy, but I’ve always tried to be helpful if someone asks for help. A lot of the Hispanic kids here, and in middle school, I’ve always been a help to them, if they need help with homework. I always offer my time to them. I’m the same way at home, just quiet.
Q: Do you speak Spanish?
A: I do.
Q: What are you looking forward to next?
A: Graduating is just going to be a huge relief, but I know there’s so much more to go. I can’t wait for that day. My family’s going to be so proud.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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