Robledo

Omar Robledo
AP English Literature
Reflection 1
Mr. Steed
5-8-16
I was not always the studious and bright student I am today when I started high school at
LALA. When I started high school, I was gang-affiliated. Many of my friends outside of school
did not find interest in trying to better their education; therefore, I did not have as much
motivation to better my education. The environment taught me many valuable lessons, but none
that benefitted me academically. When my mother decided to enroll me in the Los Angeles
Leadership Academy High School, I was a bit hesitant due to the fact that the majority of my
middle school friends were going to the local public high schools. Nonetheless, the decision my
mother made changed the course of my life.
To understand my development into a scholar, creator, and an activist from where I came
must first be understood. During my eighth grade year, I stumbled into many problems in the
streets. I got into fights and even got assaulted by multiple gang members at a park. My middle
school was a public school full of kids from around the area. Many of the kids were gangaffiliated: sold drugs, robbed stores, spent weekends getting drunk or high, and got into fights
with rivals. This is what surrounded me. I wanted to follow this lifestyle as my own path. But,
what type of path was that?
When I arrived at LALA, I was exposed to a myriad of educational subjects. The teachers
taught things I would not have learned at one of the local public high schools. I did not

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understand the importance of a college education; college never came to my mind until I arrived.
One teacher caught my attention the most: Hala Dillsi.
Ms. Dillsi taught the meaning of social justice. Ms. Dillsi was my Facing History teacher.
We would discuss various social issues. My favorite discussion concerned police brutality and
harassment. I had been pulled over by officers multiple times for no good reason. If only I had
the knowledge of law that I have now. We would read about New Yorks stop and frisk law,
which was a big deal at the time. The mere fact that an officer can stop a person for walking and
looking suspicious without actually doing anything suspicious is absurd. Ms. Dillsi and I would
converse regarding these discriminatory and prejudicial injustices. It was during these times that
my activism was at its genesis.
In the 11th grade, I joined multiple clubs and volunteer programs; among these was the
Los Angeles County Hospital from which I gained experience about the pharmaceutical industry.
As an activist, I can see the corruption in the industry through experiencing peoples struggles in
the hospitals to receive their medicine. This has shifted the career path I want to follow.
When I studied abroad in France, I met friends from all over the world who speak a
myriad of languages who shared their culture. Speaking to these people gave me a different view
of the world. We discussed politics, religion, culture, crime, education, and life. It was then that I
decided I was going to study law. It is the path I am going to take to continue my activism.
After returning to LALA, I worked to change gang members perceptions on life. Many
people had no clue about life outside the neighborhood. I was exposed to a bigger world because
of LALA and I decided to take a different path using my critical thinking. In life, it is never too
late to change ones lifestyle and that is a lesson I learned while attending LALA.