Mission Bay – A Home Away from Home for Many Students
Photo Credit: Adapted by the Beachcomber
A Home Away from Home
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February 14, 2012 • Cinthia Galvan, Staff Reporter
Filed under Student Life, Top Stories
“Let’s stay after school!” That’s what we hear after the 2:10 bell rings. But do we really know what the students stay for? Is it for an academic reason or is it just for what they call, kicking it? At Mission Bay High, students gave us their opinions and personal experiences about when they stay after school.
First, we have the students who stay at the library after school. Some of the reasons why they stay are because they need to finish homework, use the computers for projects or personal use, and more. Also, because they just find the library a nice environment in which to study or relax. In addition, we asked a student in the library why he liked to stay after school at the library and Rey Becerra said, “I enjoy staying after school in the library because is quiet.”
On the other hand, Rey Becerra is a good example of those students who also stay after school for reasons other than just being in the library. He said, “I just stay for fun because I like to interact with my friends while doing work also because I get bored at home, and there are fun students in school.” He told us that he usually stays after school to get out of his routine of the everyday stuff he does at home.
Second, other students stay in classrooms to finish homework, for extra credit, make up quizzes, tutoring and more. Mr. Villanueva gives his students the opportunity to recover all late work and to get extra help on anything they don’t understand. Also, he stays after school to supervise the M.E.Ch.A club and help them on anything they need. On the other hand, students who stay for nothing end up having a talk with him about family, friends, or on how are they doing in school. There is a great connection between the students and Mr. Villanueva that sometimes without knowing they mess up and called him “A-MA” meaning mom. That shows that the student feels so confortable that they confused Mr. Villanueva with their mothers. But for Mr. Villanueva it’s more pleasant when a big tough guy calls him mom, because he realizes that the student likes being around that environment. In addition we asked if he liked staying after school even if he takes time away from his family and he said, “Staying after school with students provides the opportunity to solidify strength from the teacher-to-student relationship. So it’s worth it, because it makes me a better teacher and it gives me the opportunity to bring me closer to the students in class.”
At the end, parents end up being really thankful of the things and time he does with his students and not only that but for students that are not in his class. That’s why you see a lot of students who come back after graduating just to visit him and let him know how they are doing.
Third, there would be the students who stay for clubs. They eventually stay to plan events or things they need for their club. For example, the M.E.Ch.A club has meetings Tuesdays during lunch, and for those who can’t attend they also have meetings Thursdays after school. We asked a student who is in M.E.Ch.A why she liked staying after school and Nicole Martin said, “I enjoy staying after school for M.E.Ch.A because the teacher and the students make me feel like home.” Another club is After School All-Stars, a club that is after school and they do Zumba, soccer, yoga, cooking class, and more. So we asked a student that stays after school for All-Stars and Cynthia Aguilar said, “The only reason I stay after school is for Zumba and because I enjoy interacting with the students and the supervisors.”
Fourth, there are students who stay for sports to either practice or to work out. For example, Ivan Luna, a student who is in track said, “I like to take track to get rid of all my mental stress out of my body.” Not only does he stay for track, but also in his classrooms because as he said, “I like to finish my work and maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
To conclude, there are students who stay after school to do nothing but dance or walk around school “for fun” like many students say. But behind those dancing steps and those laughs are lives of students who have a hard time at home. Some have to struggle with that their parents work day and night and that they have no one to spend the day with. So they look for the attention of their friends and teachers to know that they have someone who cares for them. In addition, they see Mission Bay High School as a second home – a home where they can learn and have fun being surrounded by positive, energetic people.
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