Carmesi

Policarpo’s Journey With Paso Robles High School

Edith Policarpo Gonzalez, a junior at PRHS, navigates her way through as a newcomer who arrived in 2022.

Jessica Mendez, Carmesi Co-Director

October 9, 2024

Edith Policarpo Gonzalez working on her assignments during Mr. Johnston’s class.

Policarpo’s Journey With Paso Robles High School

English

Attending a high school with strangers and speaking a foreign language sounds like a nightmare to most, but this is junior Edith Policarpo Gonzalez’s reality everyday.

Policarpo first came to the Paso Robles District in 2022 from Guerrero, Mexico, a city that is 2355 miles away. Despite the late start that she had, she believes that PRHS truly does care for their newcomers.

Due to the different curriculums, she had to enroll in classes that are meant to help her get on par with her fellow peers. Each year she has been enrolled in 2 English classes, a regular one and a language lit class, to help her learn English.

Policarpo praises her language lit teacher, John Stephens, for his ability to care and educate newcomers into believing that they can learn and go beyond,

“He helps me with learning English, if I have a question in math, or if I need explaining,” Policarpo said.

Policarpo navigates her high school journey by often asking for help. She believes that the counselors such as former counselor Cesar Barajas have always been willing to help and give words of encouragement.

Even with navigating around in a high school with strangers and with a foreign language, Policarpo enjoys attending PRHS: her friends, the school spirit, and the classes make it worth facing constant struggles with the difficulty of learning a new language.

Spanish

Asistir a una escuela preparatoria con extraños y hablar un idioma extranjero suena como una pesadilla para la mayoría, pero esta es la realidad estudiante Edith Policarpo González.

Policarpo llegó por primera vez al distrito de Paso Robles en 2022 desde Guerrero México, está a 3791.5 kilómetros de distancia. A pesar del retraso que tuvo, ella cree que PRHS realmente se preocupa por sus recién llegados.

Debido a los diferentes planes de estudio, tuvo que inscribirse en clases destinadas a ayudarla a estar a la par con sus compañeros. Cada año está inscrita en 2 clases de inglés, una regular y una clase de idiomas, para ayudarla a aprender inglés.

Policarpo elogia a su profesor de lengua, John Stephens, por su capacidad para cuidar y educar a los recién llegados haciéndoles creer que pueden aprender e ir más allá: “Él me ayuda a aprender inglés, si tengo una pregunta de matemáticas o si necesito una explicación,“ dijo Policarpo.

Policarpo recorre su viaje a la escuela secundaria pidiendo ayuda con frecuencia. Considera que los consejeros como el ex consejero César Barajas siempre han estado dispuestos a ayudar y dar palabras de estímulo.

Incluso de estar conviviendo en una escuela preparatoria con extraños y con un idioma extranjero, Policarpo disfruta asistir a PRHS: sus amigos, el espíritu escolar y las clases hacen que valga la pena enfrentar luchas constantes con la dificultad de aprender un nuevo idioma.

Edith Policarpo Gonzalez, 11th grade and a newcomer, at PRHS.

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About the Contributor

Jessica Mendez, Carmesi Director

Senior Jessica Mendez is the Carmesi Co-Director for the Crimson Newsmagazine. This is her second year in the program and her favorite part of Crimson is being able to learn more about the students at PRHS. Out of Crimson, she is a Bearkitten Director and the vice president of the AVID club.