[FROM OUR 2010 ARCHIVE]

This is his sixth year of high school, and he’s decided to make a change.

Oscar Enriquez already had four absence fails after his freshman year, but after a series of trials, he learned life needs an education.

“I felt like I couldn’t stay at school because people thought I was no good,” Enriquez said. “They thought I should just drop out, but I was too young, I didn’t want to hurt my mom. I always promised her I would finish school and go to college.”

Oscar isn’t the only one who’s experienced the hardships of absence failing. According to his good friend, senior Rafal Gutierrez, the greatest consequence of absence failing consists of failure to walk the stage with his original class.

“Pep rallies aren’t fun when your friends aren’t around,” Gutierrez said, “It [stinks] cheering for a class that’s not yours.”

After Enriquez created a habit of skipping, he says people created a low standard for him. He was known as someone who was always cutting class, which wasn’t a title that brought respect.

“If I came to school in a good mood people said things to put me down. Teachers told me just to drop out, because I wasn’t any good in school,” Enriquez said, “I had to leave to get away from it all.”

When everyone seemed to have a negative outlook toward Enriquez, he found it difficult to have an optimistic perspective on high school. He became even more distraught everyday because of the way people looked at him.

“I was tired of being put down, and I realized it’s time to grow up and do something more important than skipping,” Enriquez said.

Last year Enriquez started dating Katheryn Vela. Surprisingly the breakup was what initiated his new mindset.

“She was the first person who I cared about who actually wanted to help me and would listen to me,” Enriquez said. “I lost something special, and when you’re doing bad things you don’t get special things like that.”

Vela was upset when Oscar would skip because she knew he could be better. Although she wanted the best for him, she says was up to Oscar to make the right decision and stay in class.

“I’m glad Oscar is doing well now, and heading in the right direction. I couldn’t be happier for him,” Vela said. “He was a big part of my life, and he knows I’ll be here for him whenever he needs me.”

Although Enriquez’s relationship suffered from his decision to skip, that’s not the only consequence.

“I was upset and kind of scared, because I didn’t have the money for the [truancy] tickets. I had to work to pay the truancy off,” Enriquez said.

According to Rafal Gutierrez, attending a class gives grades a chance at improvement.

He’s getting along fine now that he’s made the commitment to be present and learning during every class period.

“It’s not hard to catch up because I haven’t skipped at all this year. Now I pretty much have a 100 in every class. I’m really trying. I don’t want it to be like before,” Gutierrez said.

After he changed Enriquez involved himself in activities that would help him maintain his new ambition. JROTC [Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps] has a large impact on his improved lifestyle, one that doesn’t include absences.

“JROTC helps me learn about leadership and success,” Enriquez said. “I think the military will help me start over and find success in life.”

At the end of the semester Enriquez will find out if this will be his last year in high school.  He’s determined to finish in 2010, and move on to the next stage of his life.

“I actually feel happy this year because I’m going to make it through and graduate,” Enriquez said. “I feel good because people actually see that I’ve changed.”