Senior overcomes the odds to graduate from Westlake

Juan Santos is an unsung hero of the Westlake High School Class of 2008. He came to Thousand Oaks from Mexico as an eighth-grader and spoke virtually no English.

Despite the language barrier and cultural differences, Juan graduated last Thursday night with a B+ average.

Unlike many young people his age, Juan is modest about his accomplishments. Instead of bragging about himself, Juan credits others. He praised the people who helped him adjust to not only new schools, but a new language and a new country. He attended Colina Middle School for a year before advancing to Westlake.

"When I came, I didn't speak any English and I needed extra help," Juan said. The staff assisted with his classes and other problems, he said, serving him many times during lunch periods and after school. "All of them were nice to me. They tried to help as well as the teachers."

Philippa Phillips, a member of the WHS staff, was cited by name. Phillips, Juan said, could explain things both in English and in Spanish.

He named several others who were especially helpful, including peer counselors Miss Agaccatti and Miss Kucta.

"They were always there for me," Juan said. Miss Blackburn, one of his teachers, was also singled out.

"The challenge was to learn the language and pass all my classes," Juan said.

Juan was active in extracurricular activities. He was a member of the track and cross country teams and the Latino Connection, a group that helped, among other things, publicize services available at the Westminster Free Clinic, which helps the underprivileged with medical needs.

He participated in Rotary Club's Youth Leadership awards when he was a junior and learned, among other things, communication skills, including public speaking.

Juan took a medical assisting class in Camarillo with the Regional Occupational Program (ROP). He still volunteers once a week at the Westminster Free Clinic and uses his ROP training to take medical histories and check vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration and blood sugar.

He lives with four older siblings. His oldest brother, 29, is Juan's legal guardian.

"He makes me do my homework," Juan said. The other brothers are 25 and 23. His sister is 20.

"I'm hoping to become a surgeon in the future," Juan said. He'll spend two years at Moorpark College, he said, before transferring to a UC.