Helping Family and Community

Augustin’s story is an inspirational one. He is from Mexico and has attended our school for the past two years. He has been working at Viognier, the restaurant above Draeger’s in San Mateo for the past 9 years as a cook, specializing in signature sauces, gourmet pizza, and designing plate presentations for photo shoots. Recently, he interviewed with Google for a position as a sous chef in San Francisco. In the last few years, his English has improved greatly, he says, due to his English as a Second Language classes with Shirley McMahon, Elizabeth Yale, and Distance Learning (DVDs and learning packets) with Carolyn Pannu.

As a result of his English competency, not only his career has advanced, but also his influence is felt in helping his family members and his community. His sister is a struggling single mom and he helps her by attending the Parent Conferences for his nephew, 15, a San Mateo High School student and his niece, 5, who attends College Park Elementary School. Sometimes he attends these conferences alone; other times, he accompanies his sister and translates for her.

Augustin is well-known at our school for his outgoing ways and friendliness. Too, his Auntie, Maria Luisa, has always been happy to prepare tamales, a most popular item, for International Days as well as the Annual School Flea Market.

Augustin says, “Thanks to my progress in English, I feel comfortable in my career and to assist my family members in the San Mateo community as well as offer my volunteer services at Friends of the Urban Forests in San Francisco whose group plants trees throughout the city to make the neighborhoods more beautiful.”