A man rode into town on Friday. He stayed for three nights and then left on Friday.

How is this possible?

Have you ever played these kind of games? Some of you may pause to figure them out and others will simply wonder what nut-case came up with this stuff?! Answer: someone who probably has way too much time on their hands. And…when you read the answers you will really dislike them. It’s actually called “lateral thinking.”

With our man in the elevator, the reason he would only go to the 6th floor on his return home is that this was the highest button he could reach on the elevator control panel. He was a short man. On days that it rained he had his umbrella with him so he could use the umbrella to punch in his 10th floor. The man on the horse? The man’s horse was named Friday!

So now that you’e got the hang of it, let’s try one more. On Friday night a man dies. He’s buried that same night. On Sunday morning his friends arrive at the grave only to discover his body is gone. What happened?

One of the problems of Jesus’ resurrection is that many people try to make sense out of everything that happened. Exactly how could Jesus die and then come back to life again? It doesn’t make any sense. No – it sure doesn’t make sense. How could our Creator love us so much that He would take our place in death and be our substitute? He lived the life we couldn’t live and died the dead we should have died. It’s hard to make sense of.

But questions have answers – if we look hard enough. Josh McDowell, a man who initially set out to disprove Christianity was asked, “Professor, why can’t you refute Christianity?” His reply? “For this simple reason – the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” After more than seven hundred hours of studying and investigating the evidence, it only led him to God. Josh would later write his now-famous book, “Evidence That Demands a Verdict.” I could go on & on listing people who have sought God and come to his same conclusion.

Each apostle in the New Testament, except for John, died a martyr’s death. They died rather than recant their belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I don’t believe for a nano-second they would have died for a lie! Who would do that?! History has shown people will give their lives for what they believe is true but not die for what they know is false.

In an Indiana cemetery there lies a tombstone which reads: “Pause stranger, when you pass me by. As you are now son, once was I. As I am now, so you will be. So prepare for death and follow me.” An unknown passerby read those words and sketched beneath them: “To follow you I’m not content – Until I know which way you went.” Fair enough.

I always tell people that eternity is a long time to spend in the wrong place! Easter Sunday is right around the corner – April 5th. The day we celebrate the resurrection of the One who took our place in death so we could have eternal life. You are invited to join us at 10 am for free coffee & donuts as we celebrate this amazing gift of life. As the sign on the back of the car for a home security business asks: “What have you got to lose?” Selah!

Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, Ca. For more information, you may contact them at Dpcitychurch.org

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A clever gal by the name of Helen Herman made-up this word and once reflected about it. She described it as including “All words in the category of something wonderful” and “though rather long and tiring before one reaches its conclusion… once you arrive at the end, you have said in one word what it w ould ordinarily take four paragraphs to explain.” Genius really!

So words have power!! Even names have power – think Hitler, Judas Iscariot, or the Chicago Bears. Some names make us smile – think Dweezil Zappa & his sister Moon Unit. Some come about their names by accident – think Octomom. One celebrity, Miami Dolphin Mark Dupas, changed his name to Mark Duper. That apparently didn’t quite say it all, so he changed it to Mark Super Duper.

NBA player Ron Artest, wanting to turn over a new leaf, at one time changed his name to “Metta World Peace.” It didn’t work out so well for him, as not long after he decked another player with his elbow and was suspended for seven games, which was peanuts compared to his suspension of 86 games in 2004 for fighting with a fan. Opps! So much for World Peace!!

Proverbs 18 tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruits.” The word “power” is from a Hebrew word which means “The strength, the influence, the capability or the potential.” That can pack a lot of punch. It means the words we speak can either destroy or heal people. We can either crush people’s hearts or bring confidence to them. We can either build bridges or build walls. Our words have power! Someone once remarked that the reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail more than his tongue. Probably true!

If we indeed “eat the fruits” of our words then we need to be able to control and tame what comes out of our mouths. We will eventually reap what we sow. Your words have a tremendous influence over your life. James 3 says this: “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.”

A huge horse – even a Clydesdale – can be controlled by a bit in its mouth. Check out the word “turn” in that verse. Your car is “turned” by your steering wheel – and your life is “turned” by your words. Your words are literally the steering wheel of your life. It’s your PGS – Personal Guidance System. If you don’t like the direction you’re headed in now – change what you say. As Tony Robbins noted – “Words can not only create emotions, they create actions. And from our actions flow the results of our lives.”

A high school teacher was once teaching a class about the USSR and all the power that the USA & the USSR had in their weapon reserves. Towards the end of the semester, one of his students raised their hand and asked him, “What is the most dangerous thing in the world?” The teacher quickly thought about all the knifes, guns, atomic bombs, nuclear bombs, satellite lasers, rockets and missiles, then said, “You’ll have to give me some time to think about that – I’ll get back to you.”

He went to bed that night thinking about that question: “What is the most dangerous thing in the world?!” He prayed and pondered…prayed and pondered. And when he woke up the next morning he had the answer. He knew for sure the answer was: Peoples’ words!

As someone once posted – “Words are sacred. If you get the right ones in the right order you can nudge the world a little.” And that is probably the most supercalifragilisticexpialidocious thing you have read today!

Bob snd Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at DPCitychurh.org

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Ah…nothing like a reality check and acknowledgement of where you’re at and how you got there! We all have influencers in our life – good and bad – hopefully mostly good! As a matter of fact, todays influencers are taking social media by storm.

By definition, an influencer is someone who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions etc of others because of their authority, knowledge, or position to their particular audience. Typically, each influencer is known for a specific niche – fashion, travel, gaming, beauty, health, fitness and so on. These people routinely earn from

$3,000 to $15,000 per month. Apparently people love to influence and others love to be influenced!

But, foremost for us should be: “Who is influencing our lives that keep us sharp for God?” If your answer is no one, that’s probably not a great thing! Proverbs 27:17 flat out tells us: “As iron sharpens iron so a friend sharpens a friend.” I call these iron sharpening sessions ‘sword fights’ and they can be tough for sure.

As one person remarked, “He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.” Definitely not fun but if we are mature enough to take some constructive criticism, we can land on our feet and be the better for it.

These iron sharpening sessions can serve as reminders of the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who push us to be our best selves. They should inspire us, challenge us, and motivate us to growth. Personally, I occasionally need to be pushed out of my comfort zones into new levels of personal greatness. We should all desire to be our best selves!!!

Think of yourself as a bar of iron. A raw bar of iron might be worth $5, but if made into horseshoes, its value increases to $12. Made into needles, its value skyrockets to

$3,500 — going up! And finally, if this same bar of iron is made into balance springs for watches, its value soars to $300,000.00. That’s pretty amazing. Allow yourself to be sharpened and watch (no pun intended) your value soar!,

Have you ever tried to use a knife or pair of scissors only to find that they wouldn’t cut? Pretty frustrating. They needed to be sharpened. People are the same way.

Without “iron sharpening iron” we tend to stay in our comfort zones and nerd. It’s the truth. We need to surround ourselves with people who push us to be better.

There was once a lumber company who was looking for a few good men. They had two candidates – a young man and an old man. They gave both men the same kind of saw and a number of trees and gave them eight hours to cut. The young man cut nonstop. The old man would cut and sit down. Cut and sit down. All day long the two were cutting trees.

At the end of the day, the owners evaluated the amount of wood that was cut. The old man had cut twice as much wood. The young man said, “I don’t understand. I never sat down to take a break. That old man sat down real often. How did he beat me?” The owner simply replied, “That old man was not sitting to rest. He stopped to sharpen his saw.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10 reminds us that “Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.” So how does one acquire this great wisdom to succeed? Again, the Bible says our friends should be helping us get sharp – and get smart. (Iron sharpening iron)

So let’s give it a shot here with a quote by A.A. Milne = “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Maybe try that on for size!

Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at DPCitychurch.org

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Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno, who also represents one of the sponsors Altura Credit Union, emceed the event. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past and/or current challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.

November’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Drew Sene Amisone, Karelyn Blackmore, Nadia Henry, Damian Renteria and Christina Walker. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for November are Estrella Guzman Banuelos and Mariah Ruiz.

Hemet Unified School District

Drew Sene Amisone

West Valley High School singled out Drew this month. Coach Brent Perez composed a letter to Drew which he read as a way to introduce him. “In all my years of coaching, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone so talented, yet so humble,” he said. “I know this season has been tough for you. This was supposed to be your big year when you landed a Division 1 football scholarship but injuries have sidetracked that momentarily.” Drew said, “This has probably been the hardest year for me. I was restricted from doing the thing I love most and that was playing football. From a young age, football has been my world, it’s been my identity and it’s been more than a sport to me.” An injured ankle before the season’s first game cost him six out of 10 games, which put him in a dark place where he avoided his friends who were also his teammates. After a long six weeks of recovery he returned to the field with a fierce intention to show what he could still do. In the third quarter of his second game back, he broke his collarbone and that ended his senior regular season. Damian hopes to attend a college with strong animal science and biology classes where he can also play football. “One lesson I’ll carry with me to college is to never give up.” Drew’s mother, Sone Faasalele, directed her comments at her son, saying, “You have surpassed all of my expectations and have become the young man that your father and I have always dreamt you to be – a responsible young man who leads from the front, not only on the field but specifically with your siblings. I don’t need the accolades or trophies to tell me how incredible you are.”

Karelyn Blackmore

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez described Karelyn as a “Girl on Fire” who has her feet planted solidly on the ground but is truly on fire. She is known around campus as “Kare” and said it is very fitting. Teacher Diana Welty-Guerrero has known Karelyn since her freshman year and said she’s always been a stop student. She serves as ASB president and is always eager to help others. She plans to attend UCSD to major in computer science.

In 2022, Karelyn’s father died after losing his battle with alcoholism after being sober for 15 years. Because she had inherited her love for technology from him, the passion they had shared began to falter. “When I was told to leave my childhood home at 16, I supported myself with my father’s mindset and my determination to prove I could survive with no parental support,” she said. She shared a quote from poet and novelist Herman Hesse, “I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortine may come our way, we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.” Karelyn said, “I am now more passionate and dedicated to success than ever before.” She said she has dreamed of attending college since she could spell her name and hopes to bring more technology back to her community after she earns her degree.

Nadia Henry

Hemet High School calculus teacher Kristin DeWit introduced Nadia as an outstanding student with a 4.5 GPA, who is ranked first in her senior class and has passed eight AP exams. “Her passion for research recently led her to complete an impressive study on post-fire sapling regeneration. Her findings were shared with the San Jacinto Forestry Department which helped them to better understand the results of their past regeneration efforts,” DeWit said. “She wants to use her intelligence to better our world.” Nadia said her story begins in her mountain hometown of Idyllwild. “Growing up in a place surrounded by nature, you can guess I’m very passionate about the environment, which has evolved into a love for conservation,” she said. After her parents divorced and her father moved to Alaska, the family had to move in with friends and when they changed religions, the rest of the family cut ties with them. This caused a lot of despair, and her sister was driven to the point of attempting suicide. Nadia worked hard to overcome these challenges. Hoping to combine her love of nature with her strong physics and math skills, she hopes to attend Stanford to prepare for a career as a biomimicry engineer. “I’ve learned that perseverance is not just pushing through your obstacles but using those experiences to fuel your passions and create a positive change,” Nadia said. “My story is a testament to that.”

Damian Renteria

Western Center Academy selected Damian as their Student of the Month for November. Counselor Sandy Arave said that throughout his time at the school, Damian has exemplified kindness, consideration and unwavering support for everyone around him, all while excelling academically. “His commitment to improving our school culture as a member of ASB is evident in every initiative he champions,” she said. Damian said, “Growing up in a Mexican family it became apparent to me at a young age that I was different from those around me. The household I grew up in was my safe place and up until elementary school I never had any issues with my identity or more specifically my sexuality.” In middle school he would overhear snarky comments about how he talked and questioning if he was gay. “At this point I never considered myself gay because to be honest I didn’t know what it meant,” Damian said. “My sister had already come out as gay, but I couldn’t fully understand what orientation was.” He began to express himself through eyeliner, mascara and feminine clothing and in his sophomore year some senior boys called him a “fag” as he was walking to his biotechnology class. “I had no other emotion but sadness; it waved over me like fire,” he said. However, those words eventually turned into motivation for Damian, leading him to join ASB, LINK Crew and UNICEF and allowing him to become the leader and mentor he never felt like he could ever be. “My actions spoke louder than my words and I’ve become someone to look up to,” he said. “So always remember, words may have power, but your actions will always be stronger.”

Christina Walker

Tahquitz High School Principal Andrew Holmes introduced Christina as a “talented scholar that loves to dance and her favorite class is English because she finds it inspirational to write about her passions.” College and Career Counselor and Pacific Islander Club advisor LaVerne Williams Schoonover said Christina has embraced the art of storytelling through Polynesian dance culture. “But most of all, she has embodied the aloha spirit through her daily actions,” she said. As a token of love, she presented Christina with a special lei that symbolizes enlightenment, protection, peace and guidance. “I believe my greatest contribution at school is helping my peers in class and getting more students involved by joining clubs,” Christina said. “I believe as a captain of the Polynesian dance team I try to encourage and teach other students to do their best in school and outside of school.” On Aug. 8, 2023, when wildfires destroyed Hawaiian towns on the island of Maui, Christina reached out with her teammates and singlehandedly organized a fundraiser. One hundred percent of the proceeds went to provide basic back-to-school items for school children through Maui Strong. Christina plans to pursue a career in radiology.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Estrella Guzman Banuelos

San Jacinto High School teacher John Norman Jr. has known Estrella since her freshman year. He said that in his 20-plus years of teaching, she is the toughest student he has ever known, adding, “She’s probably impacted me more than I have impacted her. This year she has really blossomed; it’s amazing to see when somebody is given a chance to have some structure in their lives what they can become.” Due to unfortunate circumstances, her family lived in a one-room hotel room all of last year. Estrella said that she had always planned to become a pediatric doctor until she realized that children need mental and emotional help and not just physical help. This shifted her career plans to the area of child and family social work. “Growing up I had to deal with a language barrier until I was able to speak proper English,” Estrella said. She said there were added family responsibilities that often brought her down as she was seen as the one who needed to set an example for her younger siblings. “One of the most important things I’ve learned is that you may not be able to control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide to not be defined by them,” she said. Estrella spent two years on the cross-country team and four years on the track team. She’s been an AVID and MEChA club member all four years as well.

Mariah Ruiz

Mountain Heights Academy teacher Gabrielle Henderson described Mariah as an “incredibly driven” student who seeks a future career in the healthcare field as a registered nurse “where her compassion and commitment will undoubtedly make a difference.” Mariah said her greatest contribution is and always will be supporting her mother. “I am the second oldest of seven girls and my mom works 10 hours every day to have the things that we have,” she said. “Although I know my mom is a strong, independent woman, I still try my hardest to make her day easier. Whether it’s having the house clean, dinner made or even just helping to get my sisters ready for bed, it is always worth it to help my mom get a moment of rest because I know how much she needs it. Being there for my mom has taught me empathy, responsibility and resilience and these are qualities I will take with me for the rest of my life.”

Her goals are to attend college, earn her degree in science and become a registered nurse, hopefully in the neonatal field. “Nursing isn’t just a career for me, but a way to make a difference in people’s lives,” Mariah said. “I have learned self-love and how to be resilient despite others’ opinions of me. I learned to speak up and set boundaries. A significant life lesson I’ll take with me is to not let others’ opinions bring you down or define who you are.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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   Let’s face it — we all love shortcuts. It’s like the kid who was told to clean his room but he stuffs all his things under his bed ‘cause he’s in a hurry; or our friend who tried to take a shortcut to Death Valley through a desert route – gotta love GPS! The shortcut didn’t work out and he eventually had to backtrack. Really – there is no shortcut to anything worth doing right. As someone once put it: “A shortcut is sometimes the longest distance between two points.” 

   Shortcuts – they can certainly be convenient, and for the most part they are quite harmless. But really – there are some things that we just can’t afford to shortcut – think diets, safety measures with equipment, or — our relationship with our Creator. 

   Many believe there are shortcuts to God. But Matthew 7 tells us this: “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do.”

   Donald Miller once quipped – “The problem with Christian belief – I mean real Christian belief, the belief that there is a God and a devil and a heaven and a hell – is that it is not a fashionable thing to believe.” No – it’s not fashionable because it’s a narrow way and most people want a shortcut – a broad way to God. 

   As one Biblical scholar put it, the broad way has all kinds of tolerance for sin. Every ‘man-made’ religious system is part of the scenery of the broad way – the easy way – the shortcut. But think about it – people often criticize Christians because we believe there is only one way to God. But, as a pastor once commented: “If God said there were forty-eight ways to salvation I’d preach and write about all forth-eight of them. But there aren’t.” Jesus said of Himself, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from Me.” No short-cuts. 

   Tiger Woods starting golfing when he was three. On the pro circuit he would hit as many as 1000 practice balls each day. There are stories of him practicing 14 hours a day, putting on the green for hours with bleeding hands, all the while he was number one in the world making 50 million per year. He would tell you in a heartbeat that he took zero shortcuts on his road to success!!

   The trouble with short-cuts is that in taking one, there is a very real possibility that you might not reach your destination! They often don’t lead where you really want to go! (Think God) Buddha can’t lead you to God. Mohammed can’t lead you to God! None of the millions of Hindu gods can direct you to God, nor can Joseph Smith lead you to God!! Taking the ‘God shortcut’ can lead to a lifetime of regret. And actually – that shortcut will lead to an eternity of regret. 

   There’s an amusing narrative about a guy who was driving his aunt and cousins to Georgia from New York. When he got near Georgia, he was exhausted and started looking for a shortcut. He soon found one and left the main road for parts unknown. Soon enough he realized that he was on some type of road through the Smokey Mountain National Park. 

   It was three am in the morning, on a scary, narrow mountain road – no guard rails, and…by his own admission, it was the most terrifying drive of his life! Instead of doing 55 on the highway, he was now crawling at 15 mph with his family having a nail biting contest in the backseat. Shortcuts are just not always what they’re cracked up to be!  

   As Gary Busey once said, “If you take shortcuts, you get cut short.” This one is big – please don’t shortcut yourself out of a life with God!  Selah!

Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at DPCitychurch.org

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Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno, who also represents one of the sponsors Altura Credit Union, emceed the event. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past and/or current challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.

October’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Brooklynn Batlle, Maximus Pimentel, Shonclee Rene and Cyclaly Hernandez Villa. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for October are Stephanie Alcala, Kristi Chadha and Calvin Maxwell.

Hemet Unified School District

Brooklynn Batlle

Hemet High School singled out Brooklynn this month and teacher James Walsh coached her in Mock Trial where he said she was “instantly amazing.” He also coached her in tennis where she excelled. Brooklynn said, “From a very young age, I always wanted to prove I was worthy at the opportunity of life.” Being born to a teenaged mother led to her becoming a second parent to her siblings and having to grow up too fast. “As a young woman, I admire my mother’s will to do everything on her own but as a daughter, I had so much resentment towards here,” Brooklynn said. “By age 8, I was insecure in myself and always anxious.” Her mother’s new boyfriend led to Brooklynn being a secondhand victim to domestic violence and to her mother becoming a drug addict. The family became homeless, and Brooklynn lived in and out of motels most of her young life. Eventually she went to live with her grandmother but in 2018, she and her brother were able to go back to her mother, who had given birth to another daughter. Brooklynn could not escape her feelings of helplessness as anxiety and stress continued to consume her. “I thought I was broken as a person,” she said. In her junior year, she overfilled her plate to look better to others and in March of this year, she attempted suicide as a cry for help. So far in her senior year, she holds a 4.6 GPA, is president of AVID and plays varsity tennis, along with being involved with many community service clubs. Brooklynn plans to attend Cal Poly for her bachelor’s degree in animal science and then attend veterinarian school at UC, Davis. “There is something so special about helping a being that can’t help themselves and gaining that trust,” Brooklynn said.

Maximus “Ace” Pimentel

West Valley High School Principal Gerardo Zavala said Maximus has played football all four years, serving as captain for the past two and has led the team with his competitive spirit as both a linebacker and running back. “He often says that the best part of football has been the friendships and bonds he’s found with his teammates,” Zavala said. “Off the field, Maximus excels academically with math being his favorite subject. He’s also a dedicated member of our Folklorico group, following in the footsteps of his aunts who danced at the college level.” Maximus is also involved with LINK Crew and has been on the track, wrestling and stunt cheer teams. “Four years ago, during the pandemic, my family decided to leave L.A. for a quieter and less crowded place,” Maximus said. “I felt a mix of confusion and apprehension, realized that this move would be a significant life event with a major impact on me.” He said it wasn’t easy leaving everything behind and transitioning to a new school after being in the same school district from preschool through eighth grade, surrounded by friends, familiar teachers and the support of the community. Maximus tried to find his social footing by joining clubs, sports and extracurricular activities. “It is important for me to promote cultural awareness and to show that it’s okay to engage in activities that are often stereotyped as gender specific,” he said. “I proudly joined West Valley Folklorico as the first male dancer in a class of 18 girls. Since then, other boys have followed suit. Don’t limit yourself; seek out opportunities to be selfless.” Maximum plans to major in engineering at college and said the most important lesson he’s learned is to treat his grades like a paycheck, knowing that hard work is essential for a bright future.

Shonclee Rene

Alessandro High School Principal Matthew Centofranchi introduced Shonclee as a member of the Newcomer Academy at the continuation high school that is designed for students who are deficient in credits and new to this country. “Since coming to the school, she has been a superstar,” he said. “Everybody that has gotten to know Shonclee sees her as an inspiration. She embodies characteristics that we strive to see in our students, in ourselves, in our own children. She is resilient, she is dependable, dedicated, positive and an absolutely wonderful student to be around.” Teacher Javier Zamora said that after 25 years as a teacher, he had to redo everything he thought he knew about teaching to match the needs of the students in the Newcomer program that began last school year. Shonclee speaks four languages and is enrolled in Alessandro’s First Responder CTE pathway. She is on track to graduate this month and plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College before transferring to a four-year university to pursue a career in the medical field. She said many people die every day in her home country because crime is so rampant on the streets. When she turned 18, her parents stayed behind but sent Shonclee to America. “I hope and pray God will protect them every day,” she said. “I know how lucky I am to be able to come here so I can have a better life.”

Cyclaly Hernandez Villa

Hamilton High School selected Cyclaly as their Student of the Month for October. Nominating teacher Mary Kleinvachter taught Cyclaly in her World History class as a sophomore and this year in AP Government and Politics. “When she first entered high school, she got a diagnosis that would change the course of what she would do in high school,” Kleinvachter said. “She’s taken that energy and turned it into positivity and exceling in academics.” Cyclaly said, “I believe my greatest contribution to my community is volunteering as part of NHS (National Honor Society) with blood drives and veterans’ outreach.” She plans to become a math teacher and wants to return to Anza after college to also continue her volunteer work. Cyclaly was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass. While it was difficult to learn this, she said it answered the questions she had long had about why she couldn’t do some of the things her peers could do. “I’ve had to change my dreams because of my disability,” Cyclaly said. She loved the sport of basketball and had hoped to play in high school but couldn’t as her condition worsened. “I’ve had to face looks and comments from peers and strangers,” she said, adding that others should surround themselves with people that will support them in their life and impact it positively.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Stephanie Alcala

San Jacinto High School math teacher and baseball coach Merlin Torres said he met Stephanie in her sophomore year when she started doing stats for the team at the urging of a friend and classmate. “She is one of 1,200 students I’ve had since I started teaching and I will never forget her kindness,” Torres said. Stephanie was born in Texas and moved to California when she was four. While living in Orange County, she suffered a lot of abuse and sexual harassment. She began therapy at the age of six and lived in a one-bedroom apartment with her two sisters and parents. After struggling for a few years, they moved to San Jacinto where they found better opportunities for housing and schooling. “This changed me in good and bad ways,” Stephanie said. “I was labeled a bad kid because I couldn’t sit still. It’s safe to say we all understand pain and challenges of life but the way we work through those challenges is what makes us who we are. What we have endured and what we continue to endure is what pushes us to never want to stop to reach our successes. Every student here today can understand that being a student in these times is genuinely hard. I have always been told that I wasn’t smart, and I felt that way for a long time. People may come and go but God never leaves and never fails. I am here because of him but also because of my math teacher, Mr. Merlin Torres and my English teacher Mr. (Stiven) Castillo; they really helped me up again and pushed me to want something better for my future.” Stephanie plans to earn her college degree before starting California Highway Patrol training.

Kristi Chadha

San Jacinto Leadership Academy is new to the SOM program as this is the first year it has had a senior class, making the selection of Kristi extra special. Interim Principal Vince Record said staff cites Kristi as an inspiration to others at the rigorous school. Nominating teacher Matt Corum said, “As teachers, we only get to see a little slice of our students’ lives” but added that when seniors begin to write more about themselves for college essays, teachers learn more about them. When he read through Kristi’s essays, he learned that when she saw one of her friends struggling with food insecurity, she decided to do something about it and started a nonprofit to combat the problem. “I saw that as an incredible feat of selflessness and that’s why I nominated Kristi to be our school’s first ever Student of the Month,” Corum said. Kristi said when she learned that a large percentage of residents in the San Jacinto Valley are either low income or unhoused, she felt called to help in the best way that she could. “Helping others is something I always felt passionate about and that passion led me to create Supplies for Humanity, a nonprofit focused on addressing food insecurity in this community,” she said. “With a dedicated team of student volunteers from schools across the San Jacinto Valley, we’ve been able to help the needs of our own neighbors and in turn strengthen the bonds within our community.” Kristi is the founder and president of her campus’ Diversity Club to provide spaces for open dialogue and understanding between students of different backgrounds. She also founded the Guiding Lines mentoring program, which pairs older students with younger ones to offer guidance and support to navigate school. She has a passion for medicine and hopes to attend UCLA to major in biology and eventually practice pediatric medicine. “I want to be the kind of doctor who helps children feel seen and understood and cared for during their most vulnerable moments,” Kristi said.

Calvin Maxwell

Mountain View High School’s honoree for October is Calvin, who principal Ken Swanson described as the little engine who could. “He keeps chugging along and will get to the top of that hill,” he said. Teacher Trish Ochoa noted how Calvin made a powerful choice to transform his situation. “He’s put in the effort, showing that with dedication, hard work and the right mindset, it’s never too late to get back on track,” she said. Calvin said being at Mountain View helped him a lot. “It was rough growing up,” he said. “I had a single mom, and she worked her butt off to get us help in every way possible and I love her for that. My older sister died and that put a hole in us, and it was hard to get over that.” Because of rising housing costs, the family moved around a lot and Calvin and his siblings had to attend different schools. Once they got back on their feet, COVID hit, and he found online learning to be very difficult. “During my junior year, I was told how far behind I was, and it made me give up on myself but then Mountain View helped me,” Calvin said. He plans to major in computer science in college. “Never stop believing in yourself,” he said.

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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