Alejandro Montalvo is a senior at JFK Memorial High School and will be attending California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California, for environmental engineering. He has played football since he was 6-years-old and has been wrestling since his freshman year.
Alejandro has made an incredible impact on his school, whether that be with teachers, friends, teammates or coaches. His accomplishments and contagious personality and humor have been praised and picked up by everyone he interacts with.
Luckily, I had the opportunity to interview Alejandro about his eventful time in high school, as well as his favorite memories and how impactful these four years have been for his life and future.
What are your plans after graduation, and were these your original plans?
Alejandro: I’m going to college [in] California. Cal Poly, a very good school. The original plan was to actually join some kind of branch in the military just so I could get some benefits, but I was like, “hey, I’m gonna apply instead, you know, we’re gonna find out what’s gonna happen.” And so I did it and I was like, “Ay, I actually got it!” So yeah, I guess I’m going to college now. So now, I will be moving at the end of August to go to California Polytechnic University.
Have you ever had an impactful experience in high school that you think has changed you, whether that be positive or negative?
Probably football games, you know, bonding with my teammates. There’s something special about the field that makes you guys [teammates] just wanna work together. It was a good season; it finally ended off with a decent record, so that was probably the most impactful experience in high school.
I know you love to wrestle. Do you think you’ll still be interested in pursuing that in college?
Yes, I will be going to the school as a walk-on, which is basically when you don’t get a scholarship, you basically are just showing your skills so that they [coaches] can give you a scholarship if you’re good enough. So yeah, I’ll be going there for walk-on wrestling only because I love the sport so much. It’s like a passion.
What teacher has made the biggest impact on your life and education and why?
The first one [teacher] is probably Mr. Migacz, he actually gave me some, like, very good, heartfelt messages throughout high school, especially during freshman year.
The second person is probably of course, my coach, Mr. Creighton. Very good man, very good person. He inspired me and has been a very good figure in my life, especially throughout all four years of high school. He taught me some life lessons that I’ll carry on.
Reflecting on your high school years, do you feel like you are proud of the person you have become? What are some things that have changed about your school mindset since freshman year?
I definitely have changed throughout my years in high school. I’ve become more mature. Apply yourself to work. No matter what happens, just apply yourself, you know? Doesn’t matter, if you don’t know any answers on tests, just apply yourself anyway. You never know. You’d rather go too far than not far enough.
What moment made you realize you’re no longer a kid? And that you’ve grown as a person?
Bro, when I got my license. I was like, “Oh, my God. I actually got my license.” I was driving and like, it hits you. Like, wait, I’m driving. Like, this is actually like a whole moment.
On top of that, probably college decisions [day]. Everybody’s wearing a shirt that says their college and stuff like that, and you’re like, “Wow. We’re actually not kids anymore. We’re actually going to the next level.”
Do you and your friends have any traditions that you followed throughout your high school years?
We usually had daily cookouts, like after football games. You know, bringing the people together, get some Spanish music playing, play some dominoes. Get it popping, as they say. Another tradition is probably fantasy football, we do that every year. It always gets competitive.
What is one thing you’re looking forward to in college?
Meeting new people. Seeing the different lifestyles and seeing how you can grow up as a kid and be in high school with somebody and having a parent by your side, and then all of a sudden you go to a dorm room and you’re by yourself. You’re your own person. Just meeting new people, new experiences, and just basically learning how to live as an adult.
What was your favorite class in high school and why?
Definitely, definitely econ [economics]. Mr. Farrell was a great teacher, he taught me everything I know about econ today, whether its about saving, financial decisions, being smart [financially]. Great class, great teacher. I’m probably gonna hold that with me ’till the day I die.
What are some things that you’re afraid of after leaving high school?
I guess finding new friends again, because I’m lowkey moving across the country, so I gotta find my whole new friend group and find things that work for me. And then probably missing my family. That’s about it.
