Hector Guardado is a teacher at AJMS and was once was in the military. He talks about his past and what he would do differently if he had the chance to, as well as how his bad grades affected who he is and how it lead him to where he is now. He shares what he learned and his difficulties throughout his life.
Transcript:
Janett Garcia: What was the hardest thing you have done over the years you’ve like…
Hector Guardado: Lived?
JG: Mhm.
HG: Probably… being in the military during war time.
JG: Why did you choose to join the military?
HG: I chose to be in the military because when I finished high school I knew I couldn’t go to college, because I didn’t have good grades. And I knew that I didn’t wanna just stick around and work at a McDonald’s, like a minimum wage job. So when I started thinking and looking into things that helped me. My cousin was already in the Navy, so that helped me start thinking about the military.
JG: If you had good grades, um during your high school years. What kind of job would you consider if you went to college?
HG: So if I would have had good grades in school, I think I would have tried to get into politics. Gotten to go to school, and tried to get political science degree and a lawyer degree, and uh just to get to learn about politics and become like either a [inaudible] or something.
JG: Do you think your life would be different if you went to college?
HG: I think.. my life would’ve been different. Yes, I think so because I think my mentality would’ve changed a lot sooner.
JG: At any point of your life would you ever consider like…Did you ever regret choosing what you had to do? Like if you went back to high school would you get better grades or?
HG: At this age because you know like I have a lot of good friends, I have my family, and I believe that if I changed anything I wouldn’t have any of that. So I like having my son, I like having my wife and my kids and my house now, yeah I mean yeah you would like things differently or easier but I like where I’m at. A lot.
JG: So you wouldn’t change anything? If you had the chance to?
HG: No, I wouldn’t No not right now. Maybe if I was in my 20’s maybe, but right now because I already a family and I like my family I don’t wanna.
JG: You don’t wanna change that?
HG: I don’t wanna change that.
JG: During middle school or high school was there anything that stopped you from achieving your grades?
HG: Yes, I would hang out with a lot of people that got in trouble, and I would do the same thing so I got in a lot of trouble too, and that made me not have good grades. Which obviously didn’t have good [inaudible] good grades, and that’s why I didn’t go to college. So yes that affected me a lot.
JG: Do you think that if you would have hanged out with different people, it would change the way you learn?
HG: Yes, If I would have hanged out with people that were more motivating and helpful. I think I would’ve done a lot better because I learned English in school, so I was really bad in English and so I’d because I was bad I tried hide a lot of that stuff. And so that’s probably why I would misbehave because I didn’t like reading out loud and all that. So yes I think if I had different friends, I would have acted different and if I would have acted different it would’ve let me to different choices and better probably better, I would have gotten to college. Different career-
JG: So basically better education-
HG: Yeah, better education, better life style or my life style would’ve been better at a sooner age than a later age.
JG: During middle school did any of your teachers pointed out to your parents that made you like, I don’t like that teacher or like any negative thoughts toward your teachers?
HG:Um… My teachers when I went to school they just let me be I think. I had some teachers that did try to talk to me. But to say negative, no I would think like the assistant principal were negative. And like we had a thing called the thing. The councilors were negative because I would always felt like they were trying to get me in trouble, but now that I look back I think they were just trying to help me. I was just, my mind wasn’t develop yet to realize that.
JG: Growing up as a child like your childhood what was your favorite thing you experienced?
HG: My favorite thing to experience? Ah man, that’s a good question no one has ever asked me that. I think I used to like hanging out with my siblings a lot and we used to play outside a lot, and we used to play like catch the robbers and we used to go walk and get pizza at the Little Caesars back then. I think I used to like that a lot because it’s something I remember a lot about. Yeah, so I remember walking and laughing with my siblings and getting pizza and going back and eating it, watching a movie or something.
JG: Out of all your siblings which one were you closest to?
HG: Probably my younger brother, two years younger than me. He was like my right hand man.
JG: What’s his name? If you don’t mind me asking.
HG: Josh
JG: Josh?
HG: Yeah.
JG: Growing up other than that did you have any physical like running or sports activities you liked?
HG: So, I didn’t know I was naturally good at running. Until I joined the military and they made me run before you go [inaudible] champing training so it was easy for me to run. I did try to play football, and I was pretty good in ninth grade about it. The only problem was I didn’t have the grades for it so I they didn’t let me play football. So that’s something I wish I would’ve played.
JG: During like the camp thing you said-
HG: Boot camp?
JG: Boot camp, what was your favorite memory from there or the only memory the one that stood out most.
HG: There’s a lot new experiences. They are both good and bad because they were like new that was difficult so it was like the first time we had to shoot the rifle, the first time I had to hike. The first time I had to run for like six seven miles and do things I wasn’t used to doing or comfortable doing. So it was really hard but when I did it, then I realized like oh wow I’m able to do more than I thought I could do. So it taught me that I shouldn’t be scared to try new things.
JG: Overall, like if you could go back to your younger years, what would be advice you would give your younger self?
HG: I think it would mostly have to do with money, like learn how to save and start college sooner. So learn how to get educated, learn how to control money and never be scared to try things.
JG: Do you think your younger self would listen to that advice?
HG: You know what, the reason I’m who I am now was because people gave me advice. It took me a while to listen but I did eventually listen like I would plant the seed and it would kick in like later on.
JG: So if your younger self would hear you say that advice, they would plant the seed and think about it later on?
HG: Yeah I think so. I think it wouldn’t kick in like right away but I think it would be stuck in my head I would start looking into it.
JG: What was the age you were when you changed most that you [inaudible]-
HG: My biggest change was when I think my son was born. I was 26 and my whole perspective of life changed for like doing better, making sure they get a better future. make sure that their environment is safe and make sure I was a good example for my son.
JG: During when you had your first son was it?
HG: Yeah.
JG: What was hardest thing you learned as a parent?
HG: Changing diapers. I learned I didn’t like changing diapers it makes me gag. And always realize and always trying to do the right thing. Trying to do the right thing because you want to be a good example, or at least I tried to be a good example.
JG: What was the easiest thing about being a parent?
HG: Playing because I like to play. So like my son likes to play it wasn’t hard for me to do that, and then I think the easiest. And loving them that was easy because It was different for me growing up if that was the topic. So doing that to my son than I thought it would like showing love.
JG: Yeah?
HG:Yeah.
JG: What is one advice.. If you could talk to another parent that is like new what advice would you give them?
HG: That be patient and enjoy- don’t rush it slow it down and enjoy every moment, because time flies a lot faster than we think. Yeah.
