Success Leaves

Clues
Jose Bañuelos
Cesar Gutierrez
Alicia Guzman
Javier Magallanes
VyVy Nguyen
Vanessa Obregon
Juan Perez
Alfredo Yáñez
What Is This Project
About?
A s a te a m w e in te rvie w e d te n te a ch e rs a n d five stu d e n ts:

Mr. Allison
Mrs. Allison
Mr. Anderson
Mr. Hidalgo
Mr. Hill

A sA P a n d IB stu d e n ts a n d te a ch e rs, va le d icto ria n s, e tc , th e y
a re th o u g h t to b e so m e o f th e m o st “ su cce ssfu l” p e o p le a t
yo V a lle y H ig h S ch o o l.
A rro

B y in te rvie w in g th e m w e w a n te d to fig u re o u t if th e re is a

“ formula ” to success / what successful people have in
co mmMr.
o n . Mooney

Mr. Sanchez
Background:
 Mr. Allison
 Mrs. Allison
 Mr. Anderson
 Mr. Hidalgo
 Mr. Hill
 Mr. Mooney
 Mr. Sanchez: He is a Mexican American, grew up bilingual, grew up very
religious, and grew up in a poor home, but he learned to share, be
imaginative, and communicate at a young age. He appreciates the hard work
that was necessary in raising him.
 Mr. Serrao:
 Mrs. Thayer
 Mrs. Wilkins
 Ana Cuevas: Her family has always been there to support her, they did not
create tons of stress and she was generally, a happy kid She grew up in a
bilingual household and raised as a Catholic. While she was growing up she
moved to a very racist community. Racism opened her eyes and has
affected how she sees the world today.
 Norbertha Garcia
 Maynard Hearns
 Martha Hernandez
What do you think success
means to others?
Mr. Allison: Ana Cuevas: “Getting
Mrs. Allison: good grades, high SAT
scores, being liked by
Mr. Anderson: people, graduating
Mr. Hidalgo: college and getting a
Mr. Hill: “Fame and high-paying job.”
Money” Norbertha Garcia:
Mr. Mooney: “Happiness Maynard Hearns:
and accomplishing what Martha Hernandez: Being
you want to famous, having a good
accomplish.” job, doing well in school.
Mr. Sanchez: “Money” Kathleen Leon:
Mr. Serrao:
Mrs. Thayer
Mrs. Wilkins: “Money,
Fame, Power.”
Definitions of Personal
Success- Teachers
 Mr. Allison: Ultimately, being happy is being successful.
 Mrs. Allison: “Achieving what you desire.”
 Mr. Anderson: “Doing whatever it is that you want to do.”
 Mr. Hidalgo: Being Satisfied with what you do everyday.
 Mr. Hill: Being Able to Make Friends
 Mr. Mooney: Checking goals off his list.
 Mr. Sanchez: Growth
 Mr. Serrao: Being Happy
 Mrs. Thayer:
 Mrs. Wilkins: Being able to grow and learn from mistakes.


 So is there a common definition?

 Success is being able to be happy with what you do,
achieving what you do, and being able to move
forward and progress.

Definitions of Success-
Students
Ana Cuevas :She defines success by having a good
mental stability and being able to move forward
and progress.
Norbertha Garcia: Success is being able to keep
going no matter what.
Maynard Hearns: Success is not found in money,
but instead in happiness and discovering within
yourself what is unknown.
Martha Hernandez: Overcoming a fear that stops
you from achieving a goal
Kathleen Leon: As long as someone tries their best
they will be successful.
 Is there a common definition between
students?

Are you successful, in both
your terms and others?
Are Successful People
Competitive?
Based on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest,
they were asked how competitive they were.
Mr. Allison: Ana Cuevas: 8
Mrs. Allison: Norbertha Garcia: 9
Mr. Anderson: 10 Maynard Hearns
Mr. Hidalgo: 7-8 Martha Hernandez: 8-9
Mr. Hill: Kathleen Leon: 7
Mr. Mooney:
Mr. Sanchez: 7 B a se d o n th is d a ta , it ca n b e
co n clu d e d th a t co m p e titive n e ss is
Mr. Serrao: n e ce ssa ry in su cce ss. H o w e ve r, fo r
Mrs. Thayer: exa m p le so m e fo u n d th a tif th e y d id
n o t se e a re a so n to co m p e te , th e n
Mrs. Wilkins: 8 th e y w o u ld n o t.

Just like you and me they have
problems and dilemmas
sometimes, but how do they deal
with theirs?
Most find that talking about their problems either
with family, friends, teachers, counselors, and
coaches.
Others find that writing and reflecting on problems
help as well.


 “I don’t think it’s very healthy to figure it out

by yourself…” –Ana Cuevas [on how she deals with
her problems]


 “ I like cooperation and from friends or family,

but then there are issues that I need to keep
personal or figure out on my own.” –Mr. Sanchez
Have any of our
interviewees ever hit Rock
Bottom?
Some have and some have, the causes of those
who have felt as though they’ve hit rock bottom
are:
 Being overwhelmed with work, family tension,
relationship issues
 Death of a family member
 Relationship struggles
 Going against their own morals
 Family-related issues at home
How did they recover?
 Talking through it with others, support from
friends and family, religion, realizing that things
that are big to you are small to the world.

Why IB! or AP?

Martha: Mr. Mudd was going to be a teacher,
and I saw it as a challenge, more college
level, and I thought it would be practice. I
also saw it as an opportunity and if I took the
easy role and not be fair with myself. I think it
was a good choice.”
Top Priorities
Martha: School is my top priority, and the only
thing you gain through poverty is
communication. I try to achieve and
challenge.

Are all successful people
leaders?
When asked which position they prefer when
they must work with a team, the two most
common answers were:
 1. Usually take a leadership position
because they want things done right
 2. They do not usually want the leadership
position because if they see others that want it,
or who might do better jobs they will allow
them to have it. Often they believed
themselves to be better team players.
What are some of their accomplishments? (The ones that we
see…)
 XR: Valedictorian, being accepted  Maynard Hearns: An excellent
into University of California, writer, being accepted to
Berkeley, creator and president of University of California, Riverside,
MUSA and an IB student.
 Mr. Sanchez: Successful IB English  Betty Garcia: A successful IB
teacher, graduating with 3 majors student, winner of many
 Mr. Serrao: Graduating from the scholarships for school, also being
University of Northern Colorado, accepted into UC Berkeley, ASB
Teaching at a university in Spain, president of 2010,
Teaching AP Spanish  Mr. Hidalgo: successful college
 Mr. Anderson: being an AP English graduate and AP and IB Social
teacher Studies instructor
 Mrs. Wilkins: Graduating from  Mr. Allison: College Graduate and
University of Southern California successful AP and IB Science
as Valedictorian? teacher
 Martha Hernandez: Currently the #1  Mrs. Allison: College Graduate,
Academic Junior and an IB Mother, AP and IB Science
student Teacher
 Kathleen Leon: Co-Valedictorian, a  Mrs. Thayer: Successful Honors
successful AP student, successful World History Teacher, Successful
Academic Decathlon Member. Academic Decathlon Coach,
 Debates Against Dr. Mudd!
  Mr. Hill: Vice Principal
 Mr. Mooney: Successful IB and
What are their greatest
personal achievements?
Martha and XR: Speaking Mr and Mrs. Allison, Mrs.
confidently in front of Thayer, Mr. Hidalgo, Mr.
others. Hill, Mr. Serrao, Mrs.
Betty Garcia: Her Wilkins: Having kids/
acceptance to Berkeley Raising Children/ Family.
and competing in the Mr. Sanchez: Overcoming
National Junior Olympics a physical and mental
Maynard Hearns: Getting challenge when he went
through IB on a hike in Macchu
Picchu.
Kathleen Leon:
Challenging herself and Mr. Anderson: Graduating
therefore getting what in the top 3 percent of
she wants. his class in university.
In co n tra st to w h a t w e se e th e ir su cce ss is, h o w d o e s it co n tra st w ith

th e y b e lie ve th e ir g re a te st a ch ie ve m e n ts a re ?