Juan Jimenez (pictured with Joe DeRuosi, the director of the school’s college, career, and technical education program), the second oldest of three siblings and a recent high school graduate, is inspired by the wealth of experience and knowledge he’s gained at Rancho Cielo. He’s also proud of who he is on a deeper level.
“I will never be ashamed of where I come from,” says the 20-year-old from East Salinas. “My parents are from [Michoacan, Mexico], where I am grateful for visiting every year to see their gorgeous hometown; they worked so hard to start a new life for the betterment of their family.”
When Jimenez was young, he couldn’t wait until adulthood. But now, he wishes to turn back the clock, relive his childhood, and “fix all the mistakes I have committed over the years. I keep pushing forward and move on.”
Jimenez was an energetic kid; he says teachers often misread his ants-in-the-pants demeanor as poor behavior. Educators scolded him and frequently met with his parents to complain about his inability to sit still. Meanwhile, life for Jimenez, away from school, also had challenges.
“Growing up in Salinas, especially in the Hispanic culture, is tough,” Jimenez admits. “Moving from home to home, maybe an apartment, a studio, or even a garage. Living in these circumstances can be quite difficult. I grew up walking myself to school, taking care of myself while my hardworking, beautiful parents made money for our household and ensured we had everything we needed.”
Jimenez also cared for his little brothers; he walked them to school and cooked most of their meals. He was introduced to folk wrestling in middle school and fell in love with the sport. Jimenez never missed practice. Despite a leg injury following an incorrect jump landing during a match, Jimenez continued to put forth his best effort and didn’t give up. His approach to wrestling was an early glimpse into his potential and passion.
However, mainstream high school would be a struggle without any support. Jimenez felt like high school welcomed violence, and fights were unavoidable.
“High school was a turning point,” he recalls. “I was misbehaving and disrespecting [everyone].”
Jimenez grew up in a world that didn’t show respect for him, so his reaction was to ignore authority.
“I would argue with teachers, administrators, and school security,” he says. I was a smart kid but pretty emotional when obstacles came my way.
The negative path Jimenez was on eventually led to Rancho Cielo. Initially, he saw the school as a place where he could get the credits he needed to graduate, but he received much more.
“There were wonderful administrators and great peers to help,” he says. “I felt more comfortable and enjoyed the environment. Rancho Cielo is welcoming and supportive in every way you need. Peers assist if you are stuck. Students are treated like human beings, not criminals.”
Jimenez graduated from the Construction and Sustainable Design Academy with many bankable skills.
“I learned how to paint properly, apply mud in wall crevices, and be properly secure and safe on any job site,” he says. I have also managed new students and assisted them with any task they were a part of.”
As part of Rancho Cielo’s award-winning Orange Country Sustainability Decathlon team, Jimenez assisted nine other students in building an 848-square-foot home, Nexus_01. Jimenez helped lead Rancho Cielo to a win over stiff competition, including UC Irvine and UC Santa Cruz.
“I was also able to learn more about our industry partners and the trades they belong to, such as Scudder Roofing, Lopez Movers and Palmer Electric,” Jimenez adds.
While building the award-winning home, Jimenez digested information about every facet of construction, from plumbing to electricity to the LEED certification process. Following the year-plus OCSD journey, the Rancho Cielo graduate has a clear vision of life as a productive and successful adult.
“I plan to attend Hartnell College and complete their Construction Management program,” Jimenez says. “With that, I want to find a well-paying job in the construction industry with an opportunity for growth.”
