It is with great pleasure that the teachers, tutors and coordinators who have worked with Antonia Mendoza unanimously applaud her nomination for the District Student of the Month. Antonia is one of the rare students who has, through sheer determination and motivation, succeeded in the many programs offered at Moffett High School.
A young parent who has been in the United States only three years, she has diligently attended English as a Second Language classes while simultaneously pursuing a high school diploma.
Sharon Fritas, Antonia's ESL teacher says of her, "Antonia has taught herself the difference between attending and participating, between seeking information and seeking wisdom, and between obligation and dedication. In the last year her language skills have improved dramatically as she has responded to a new language and made it her own."
Despite this already demanding schedule, Antonia, a senior, has also actively participated in the Young Parents Program. She states that one of her top priorities is to be a responsible and stable parent. One of the highlights of her experiences at Moffett High School has been the weekly field trips to the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, where she has learned not only solid parenting skills, but has found camaraderie and support among her peers.
Of the classes she has taken in the High School Diploma Program, she enjoys economics and civics the most. Antonia emphasizes that it is a challenge and an honor to learn about the structure of the country we live in.
In her spare time, Antonia enjoys dancing, cooking and teaching her son, Eric, using the skills she learned at the "play" workshops she's attended. Her goals are to continue her education at the college level and find a job in the business world. Another dream she hopes to realize is to have her own business.
In her unpretentious and sincere way, Antonia is a fine example of what every educator hopes to witness: a tenacious and dedicated student who tackles obstacles and moves ahead with an enthusiastic desire for learning and achievement.