Giving school another try, successfully

By that time, he had held down a job for well over a year and making his own money. School took a back seat to enjoying life and spending money that he had earned. That decision put a damper on Mora’s academic success. As a result, he is graduating eight years later than originally planned from the San Mateo Adult School. But the delay doesn’t get Mora down. He sees it as the first step of a new goal of one day becoming an archeologist.

Mora, 27, was born in San Francisco and raised in San Bruno. The second of three children, Mora attended El Crystal Elementary School and then Parkside Intermediate. He always enjoyed sports, but wasn’t a standout at one in particular. During middle school, Mora began working as a paperboy. The job didn’t slow Mora from his studies; it was just a little extra cash for school supplies and to help his parents.

Before leaving middle school, Mora began working for a nonprofit called Youth in Action, for which he would sell things door to door. Kids were also taken to Great America about once a month.

Once at Capuchino High, the allure of hanging out with friends started to kick in. At school, he would take notes and pay attention, but the work at home always lost out to having fun with friends.

It wasn’t about the future for Mora; it was about the moment. His grades slipped and in his junior year, Mora transferred to Peninsula. He was 17 when he enrolled, just shy of turning 18. Once he turned 18, that was it, Mora signed himself out of school. He briefly enrolled at the San Mateo Adult School but soon left there as well.

Mora’s parents warned him not to give up. Both received little to no education past elementary school and hoped he would go farther. Not going to school meant the reality of paying bills, Mora’s father warned. Mora’s dad helped him get hired at the Millbrae Pancake House, where he worked as a host for five years. Then he started working various seasonal jobs at places like Coyote Point Park and See’s Candies. Last year, Mora began to pull away from friends realizing that there may be more than hanging out.

Throughout his time out of school, Mora kept his mind strong with reading, particularly newspapers. Last year, he decided to go back and finish school. Mora first thought it was too late, but at his little sister’s encouragement, he enrolled.

Mora set a goal of finishing as quickly as possible. Classes started in March with the goal of finishing by May, allowing Mora to be part of the class of 2010. He achieved that.

"I knew I could accomplish it. My mind was really focused,” he said.

Mora realized he’s a little behind in the traditional education plan, but is excited to be back on track. He plans to attend college, but Mora is not sure yet which. Mora hopes to become an archeologist, a profession he sees as a blending of his love for science and history. Plus, Mora joked, he can use a shovel.

The San Mateo Adult School graduation is 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 16 at the College of San Mateo. Tickets are required.

Great Grads is in its fifth year profiling one graduating senior from each of our local schools. Schools have the option to participate. Those that choose to participate are asked to nominate one student who deserves recognition.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.