How this aunt, nephew pair of Sacramento grads helped each other overcome COVID-19 challenges
Esteban Ramos didn’t spend much time in his seat at his senior awards night. Sacramento New Technology High School graduating senior was constantly standing up to receive a distinction from one of his teachers. Among honors like the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma and the State Seal of Civic Engagement was the highest of them all: valedictorian.
His aunt, Guadalupe “Lupe” Villagomez, sat next to Ramos, cheering him on, but she didn’t stay put for long either. Villagomez, also a graduating senior, made repeated trips to the front podium to gather her share of individual recognitions — including the “I can make this work” award, a certificate specific to Villagomez that speaks to her willingness to find a solution.
Despite their familial relationship, Ramos and Villagomez are the same age and also happen to be best friends, or “two peas in a pod” according to their principal. Both are legacy students, following family members who attended the charter school in past years.
Their school, New Technology High, represent only 33 of the tens of thousands of graduates in the Sacramento area. School districts like Elk Grove School District and Twin Rivers Unified School District have held most of their commencement ceremonies already, but the majority of Sacramento City Unified School District high school graduations will take place in the next couple of weeks.
Coming out of COVID-19
This year’s graduating class started high school during the height of COVID-19, when school was completely online. Learning from behind a screen proved difficult for the two family members for different reasons.
For Ramos, who was shy even before COVID hit, remote learning made for an even more isolating experience. Coming to campus for the first time in his sophomore year, Ramos found it hard to connect with others, especially since his classmates seemed distant from one another.
“I felt like that year of quarantine really cut everyone’s social interactions, especially mine because I was never really a social person, originally,” Ramos said. “It made it even worse, so I was just by myself all the time.”
His aunt, on the other hand, struggled academically. She couldn’t focus on her computer eight hours a day, which she said reflected in her grades.
Both said that getting back into the classroom and approaching school through the project-based learning model helped them advance academically and socially. This approach has students tackle real-world problems by collaborating with their peers.
Ramos and Villagomez also credited the staff and structure of their school in making them into the people they have become, but the two may have found the most empowerment through their friendship.
Villagomez found herself turning to Ramos for help with school and the two would often team up to work on assignments together. At the same time, the naturally outgoing Villagomez helped bring Ramos out of his shell by encouraging him to become more involved in student leadership.
The impact they had on one another’s school experience is clear through their achievements — Villagomez is graduating just a few spots behind Ramos at fourth in her class academically.
“If someone were to ask me freshman year if I saw myself as being fourth in my class this year, I would have said ‘nope,’” Villagomez said. “But I’m definitely proud of our progress.”
And Ramos, who started his high school career feeling completely alienated from his peers, received raucous applause from his classmates at their senior awards night. Both were recognized by teachers as outstanding students, leaders and young adults.
“They’re just very resilient kids,” Principal Jessica Martin said. “I’m super confident they are going to be extremely successful.
Ramos and Villagomez will stick together as they both attend Sacramento City College next year. Ramos is then set to transfer to UC Davis to get his undergraduate degree in biology, after which he plans to attend medical school to study neurosurgery. Villagomez plans to study psychology.
Class of 2024
Martin noted that this graduating class is particularly special to her because she started as principal at the same time they entered the school as freshmen. Martin could more clearly see the growth that the school’s distinctive structure inspires among one cohort of students after sticking with them for four years.
“One thing I have noticed with this class is that this system works when students can be here all four years,” Martin said. “Project-based learning is a little different and the culture here is different than anywhere else you’re going to go. The students who have been here for all four years really understand what it means to be a New Tech Timberwolf.”
By graduation, each student identified real life, achievable goals.
“They all have goals — we didn’t let anyone get away with ‘I don’t know,’” Martin said. “That’s what’s really special about a small school, you’re able to dig in with all the kids individually.”
New Technology graduates have walked the stage, and many other Sacramento graduates will do the same in the coming week. For a schedule of remaining ceremonies, visit scusd.edu/graduation.
This story was originally published June 4, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
