Local Boy Does Good

I enjoy my facebook time. And I realize that Betty White wasn’t completely wrong when she said on SNL that "facebook is a big waste of time." But through facebook I have reconnected with lots and lots of people. Some family members, some people from high school days, some from college, some from other experiences...

A couple of months ago a guy from Dallas contacted me on facebook. He wanted to know if I was the same Mr. Bobo who attended Anson Jones Elementary School in Oak Cliff in the 1960s. He remembered me as being "dressed really nice and having red cheeks and a baby face. You wore colorful shirts and most of us had boring clothes back then." I need to share this information with my mom, I guess, so that she can know that my classmates appreciated her attention to detail when dressing me for day after day of reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.

For a while now, every once in a while, I get a friend request from a young man or young woman that I know from my teaching days at Sam Houston High School here in San Antonio. Those requests always make me smile. I confirm immediately, and then enjoy cruising through their profiles - finding out what they’ve been up to. Education, career, marriage, children - all kinds of things have happened to these wonderful young people over the past ten years. They’ve grown up!

One former student with whom I’ve been in touch all along is this young man:


Alex DeHoyos was in my ninth grade English class during the school year 2000-2001. I remember him and his classmates clearly. They were a very bright group. Very fun to have in class. Alex provided his own brand of a teacher’s challenge. I found myself constantly redirecting him to whatever the task was at hand. He was pretty consistent about turning in assignments late. He usually asked for extensions. On everything. But he was always a great kid who asked as well as answered questions thoughtfully.

And since I’ve been at the deli, Alex has come by fairly regularly to enjoy some tortilla soup and a chicken chipotle sandwich (with extra chipotle mayo on the side, please) and share what he’s been up to. We usually enjoy a good visit, and I am always impressed by his enthusiasm and energy and the way he continues to educate himself about what he needs to be doing to move onward and upward. It’s exciting to see a young man who is driven and passionate about the goals he has set for himself.

These days you might catch him with a camera on his shoulder at a Spurs game. In fact, he's directing a video project about the Spurs’ mascot, The Coyote, that will be shown at upcoming Spurs’ NBA games. You might spy Mr. DeHoyos around town scouting a location for a film he’s directing. You might run into Alex at a cocktail hour in Austin networking to beat the band. Check out this video of one of these Austin Elite Networking things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nACYrEddS7w  .  He’s a busy young man. He’s making things happen for himself, and for the people around him. Keep your eyes and ears open for this guy. He’s going places.

Comments

  1. - Excellent! - We in Austin are proud and excited to continue working with One of San Antonio's most talented emerging artists! Alejandro is an excellent example of the drive & passion that radiates out of Central Texas! - RgL, Austin Elite Networking - AENconnects.com

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