By Juan Varela, Salutatorian - SIATech Charter High School

Upon first entering SIATech, one word came into my mind “opportunity,” an opportunity to learn something new, an opportunity to start fresh and to make something of myself.  At the beginning of this school year, while I was in my other school, it dawned on me that this was going to be my last year in school. One last opportunity to get good grades, a last opportunity to raise my GPA and be the student I know I could be. In that school my dreams just stayed dreams! For one reason or another, I was being held back by other students and sometimes the school which needed me to work at their pace rather than my own.

One day a fantastic thing happened! I happened to be with my cousin, Ruthie, and we were looking for jobs on the Internet at one of our libraries. She was writing on a piece of paper that was actually an advertisement for Job Corps. I turned it over and said “Ruthie have you looked at this?” Then I called the number. This phone call led me on a fantastic journey to Job Corps and SIATech! Coming to SIATech and Job Corps, I got inspired to do my best and be the student I knew I could become. Of course I could not have done it alone. It was all a combination of the different personalities that the staff at SIATech and Job Corps brings together. The Homestead staff of Mrs. Lopez, Mr. Lopez, Mrs. Ramsay, Mrs. Primerano, Mrs. Alcina, Mrs. Hall, Mr. Acevedo, Mrs. Hazim, Mrs. Werther, and Mr. Grafals each helped make me the salutatorian. The gorgeous ladies in the front of the school inspire everyone to make the best of their day everyday because they greet everyone with their smile. The teachers encourage every single student who walks in the SiaTech doors to do their best no matter what. Mr. Lopez inspires us when he goes to our CPP classroom to inform us about SIATech. Mrs. Lopez transforms our lives when she admits us into the fabulous program and finally Dr. Dawson has left a permanent print in our lives when she founded SIATech in Miami-Dade County.

School was not always a priority for Michelle Picos, a seventeen year old SIATech High School graduate.  With family obligations and mounting financial troubles, she found herself caring for relatives instead of attending school.  Then Michelle heard about Job Corps through an older cousin.  He had attended Job Corps and the SIATech high school program and encouraged Michelle to come to Job Corps to better her life. 

During this time, Michelle had no where to stay because her mother was getting her life together in a Sober Living Home.  The decision to come to Job Corps could not have happened at a better time for Michelle.  She knew that she wanted to get her high school diploma because she was only 16 and knew the value that the diploma held.