From Government Studies to Boxing, Returning to School Helps OIHS Student “Learn Better”

A conversation between Ronaldo, Oakland International High School student, and Martha Sessums, President, ACE

The virtual learning school year of 2019/2020 was tough for Ronaldo, now a junior at Oakland International High School (OIHS). He arrived from Guatemala as a teen and learned English, made friends and began appreciating learning and his teachers. But like many students, he spent a year in virtual classes because of the pandemic and it was a tough learning experience.

“I didn’t learn too much because, you know, it’s different in person,” Ronaldo said. “They teach you and show you what you have to do, but in Zoom you just sit at the computer and it was difficult. It’s not the same as in person.”

Ronaldo had a space at home for his computer and attending classes. His family supported him in school, but he also worked at a restaurant after school, and still does. His sister also was home and learning virtually in her space. But he prefers being in the actual school community.

“It was really nice to come back to see your friends in person, have conversations in person and just wear a mask,” he laughed. “It’s still important to keep safe.”

The personal part of learning for Ronaldo wasn’t just about being and talking with friends. It was also about how he worked with his OIHS teachers and learned.

“I like the way they teach students here,” Ronaldo said. “They teach you more specifically here, try to help you to learn to be better, to learn better, make your English better. In the other school I went to they just showed you how to write . . . and didn’t ask if you understood or needed help again to understand this. They do that here. Not just for me but for all students.”

Ronaldo has a few favorite school topics including current government history and discussions about political points-of-view and how things are decided from a philosophical angle. He participated in a debate on who should make the rules – students or teachers – and enjoyed the discussion, making key points and the process of listening to one another. There was no winner, just an enjoyment of and learning from the process.

“We are the same, you know,” he said. “Always the same.”

A new topic he is learning is taking pictures with digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras and making videos. He is learning to take pictures with these larger cameras that are very different than a quick snap on a mobile phone. He is also going to learn movie making skills and will create a movie for a group project in his Film Production class. When I talked to him, the topic had not been decided yet, but he will learn about telling a story in flowing pictures.

What would Ronaldo like to do when he graduates? “Become a boxer,” he says. He has learned boxing from friends and OIHS hopes to offer an after-school boxing program soon. He has watched many videos on boxing and likes the exercise.  It is also a way to make money.

“I have a friend who started boxing for two years and I was helping him,” Ronaldo said. “His first fight was in Las Vegas. He lost and you could see it in all his face, but he wanted to keep going.”

Ronaldo isn’t ready for Vegas yet but he wants to spend a couple of years learning the skills so he can pursue that dream.

But one can have a couple of possible career paths open, especially in high school where students explore lots of options. Ronaldo’s parents are encouraging him to attend college like his sister is doing, but he is not sure.

“I’m not sure I want to go to college, but they (my parents and others) tell me you have to go, it’s more better for your future,” he said.

But if Ronaldo did attend college, it could be for learning a new skill set at a trade school or vocational college.

“I was actually thinking of becoming a plumber, he said. “I could go for two years to college and learn the training. Plumbers make a lot of money.”

Fortunately, Laney College, which is part of the Peralta Colleges, offers many vocational programs like Plumber Training. The Plumber Training program prepares students for plumbing careers by orienting students to basic plumber work, tools and equipment. It also includes construction development which requires math and pre-algebra. Sorry, Ronaldo. Math counts even in plumbing.

Ronaldo started working at a Mexican restaurant after school to help with his family’s finances for 2020 and is evidently doing it so well that the restaurant is training him to become a manager. Another career path.

Ronaldo’s advice to incoming OIHS students is to read books, especially history. He enjoys the inspiration from leaders such as Martin Luther King. Although the hardest thing he deals with now is the balance between school time, work time and getting the homework done, he is glad to be at OIHS and focusing on school.

Whether it’s boxing, becoming a plumber or a restaurant manager (maybe owner) or something else, I suspect Ronaldo will smartly punch his way to success, even in these difficult times.