Daily Item, The (Lynn, MA)

May 20, 2010

Tech senior named Student of the Year

LAURA PAINE THE DAILY ITEM

Lynn Vocational Technical Institute's Vocational Student of the Year is ranked third in the senior
class and has a GPA of a 3.86. He is also the same student who came to the United States from
Guatemala, not knowing a lick of English, three years ago.
"Four years ago everything in my life changed when my mother passed away of cancer," LVTI senior
Wilfredo Garcia said. "I was 13 years old. My hero and role model was my mother and she died.
Before she passed away, I had love, I had someone to trust and I had someone who was always there
when I needed. I have had to overcome many obstacles in my life. When I came to the United States
from Guatemala, it was very difficult for me because I had to leave my family, my parents and brothers
and sisters.

I miss them a lot, but I wanted to come to the United Sates because I thought that I would have better
opportunities for an education than my country offers." Garcia is in the Computer Aided Drafting and
Design shop, a program that teaches the making of detail, layout and assembly drawings of machine
parts, tools and other mechanisms. He was recognized last month at Mechanics Hall in Worcester at a
dinner to honor the top vocational education students throughout the state. Qualifications for this
award include showing leadership and character, both in and out of school, community services and to
be in good academic standing.

He was on his way back from a field trip from a "Cool Technology" presentation at North Shore
Community College when his teacher got an e-mail on her phone asking her to congratulate him for his
achievement - the committee had given him the most votes.

"When Mrs. Toomey told me about it I felt so proud of myself to be accomplishing so many attributes
in such little time," Garcia said. "This only encourages me to continue working hard to succeed in life."
In addition to this accomplishment, he is a member of the National Honor Society, a Boston Globe
Scholastic Art Competition and Art All-State Competition award winner and the recipient of a pre-
college summer program scholarship to Montserrat College of Art. He is a member of the swim team
and has also been awarded the Student/Athlete Award at LVTI. Recently, Garcia had the opportunity
to take part in a cooperative education program that had him working for Analogic Corporation in
Peabody as a mechanical drafter. When customers want to make changes to a medical or security part,
they speak to an engineer who makes the Engineering Change Order so the newly proposed part can be
manufactured.

"I have had the benefit of learning both the theory of the trade in the classroom and the practice
through my current cooperative program," Garcia said. "I have learned a great deal through this theory
and practice.

It has taught me how to balance education and work responsibilities, while still being successful in
both. Since I have been working in the cooperative program throughout my whole senior year, I have
developed a great work ethic for both education and the workplace. I have strengthened my
organization and time-management skills. I am dependable, professional and a diligent worker." Garcia
works part time as an assistant chef at Middleton's Bluefin Restaurant where he has learned how to
cook Japanese food and about the language and culture. He has been accepted to Northeastern
University and Wentworth Institute of Technology, both in Boston, and plans to study civil engineering
because he is interested in "anything that has to do with making, building or designing." He said his
mother used to tell him, "Willy tú lograrás tus metas y tendras éxito en tu vida," which means, "Willy,
you will achieve your goals and you will succeed in your life." He said the words have echoed through
his mind after his mother's passing and since his arrival in the U.S. He said she wanted him to show his
family, who chose work over schooling, that education "can lead you to success." "My mother
supported my dream of going to college and becoming an engineer," Garcia said. Growing up, she saw
my ability to draw, design and build houses and bridges out of paper and wood. We thought I would
succeed in the profession of engineering.

My mother wanted me to be the pride of our family. I made my way to the United States, not knowing
a word of English, because I wanted to fulfill the dream my mother and I envisioned of me going to
college and becoming an engineer." Garcia said he has always put forth his best effort in his studies as
well as his work and his mother's passing influenced him by inspiring him to keep working.

"Through this experience, I have become more mature, responsible, independent, and most importantly,
prepared for college," Garcia said. "As I now apply to college, I am reminded of my mother's words
and excited that I am soon going to be able to fulfill our dream. By fulfilling my dream I will like to
change the stereotype of Latinos, starting with my own family. Also, I hope to become a role model for
other Lynn students who are in situations like mine." Garcia said he would like to thank his shop
teacher, Kim Keighley, for choosing him as the LVTI student of the year out of his shop as well as the
committee for choosing him as the final candidate out of 10 other "outstanding students.".

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