Graduating with the class of 2026 at Mt. SAC Early College Academy (MECA) is respectful and responsible Reyli Salazar.
Salazar chose to attend MECA his freshman year “to complete [his] college credits” and “to be able to graduate with an AA [Associate of Arts degree].”
Glad with the decision to attend MECA, Salazar has a lot of fond memories from this school, his favorite memory being, “With my art teacher Mr. B, and just in general being in his class, he was a great teacher, and it was always welcoming and fun to talk to him,” Salazar said.
This senior year, Salazar’s favorite class is Senior Seminar, taught by Andrea Pedroarias. Salazar said, “[I] learned skills that are applicable to real life.”
Salazar has still faced many challenges in his years at MECA, one being his Calculus college class.
“The class was already more difficult as it was taken on the actual college campus and more difficult math than anything I have ever seen. Along with the fact that there wasn’t a lot of support, I really had to try my best to pass the class,” Salazar said.
Despite this challenge, Salazar has learned how to overcome this obstacle, saying, “Even though it was hard. I was still able to overcome the challenge by teaching myself, asking others for help, and taking notes during lectures.”
Outside of his school life, Salazar participates in many hobbies to keep his social life busy/ A hobby Salazar has been doing for years is hockey. Salazar says he’s “been playing hockey for seven years now and won a couple championships.” Salazar also enjoys 3D printing, saying, “whenever I get the chance, and designing my own models.”
At home, Salazar has a pet, a green-cheeked parakeet named Bean. Salazar adopted Bean in middle school, saying, “I’ve had him for around 5 years, and now I can hold him. He also dances.”
With graduation approaching this year, Salazar has left behind some advice to MECA’s students: “[G]et your work done as soon as possible because it makes anxiety a lot lower and gives you a lot more freedom to do what you want without having to worry about the deadline.”
Salazar’s plans for after graduation consist of going to a UC where he can “get a mechanical engineering degree, then transition into dental and orthodontics as the end goal.”
