John Mayoralgo, a freshman here at Mt. SAC Early College Academy (MECA), brings a chill vibe and a bright spirit to his first year of high school. With his laid-back nature and easy smile, John is finding his way through his first year of high school one step at a time.
Coming from St. Joseph Catholic School, John is already used to small schools, which made the transition to MECA a lot smoother. “St. Joseph is really, really small. That’s what I liked about it,” John said. “It kind of feels the same here, and that makes it easier.”
As a legacy at MECA, John is following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, who both went to MECA before him. His oldest brother, Joseph Mayoralgo, graduated from MECA’s class of 2022, the first graduating class of MECA. John’s second brother, Justin Mayoralgo, graduated from MECA’s class of 2023.
“When [MECA] first opened, my [parents] were going to send my oldest brother somewhere else, but after they heard about MECA, they decided to send him here, then my other brother ended up here, and now I’m here,” John explained.
He remembers visiting MECA at school events when he was young. “My oldest brother was a freshman when I was in 5th grade, now I’m here now, which is kind of cool,” he stated.
Even though high school can be a big adjustment, John says things have been going pretty well. “I’m doing fine. It’s been pretty easy,” John said. “That’s probably my favorite part, it’s not hard.”
One of the highlights of his school day is yearbook, his high school elective. “I really love being in yearbook, my favorite part is taking pictures,” John exclaimed. He plans on continuing being a part of The Howler next year.
Courtney Bell, yearbook and English 1 teacher at MECA, sees John as someone who stands out, not because he’s loud, but because he is a hard worker.
“He’s funny, he’s kind, and he gets along with everyone,” Bell said. “He’s one of those students who just makes the room feel more comfortable.”
Sometimes in high school, it’s hard to find fun and nice people to be friends with, but according to his friends, John is one of those people. One of his good friends, Ivan Chavez, a freshman here at MECA, stated, “John has a great sense of humor and he makes everyone laugh.”
“[He’s] a very eccentric person that’s able to combine academics with fun. I can literally never catch him without a smile on his face,” said freshman Makenna Chung.
When it comes to challenges, John doesn’t give up easily. He asks for help, talks with his classmates, and keeps trying until he gets it.
“He really perseveres,” Bell said. “A lot of students shut down when things get tough, but John doesn’t. He pushes through.”
Outside of school, John likes to hang out with friends, talk on the phone, and do his own thing.
“My ideal perfect day is just doing nothing,” he said.
As for his plans during high school, John’s not rushing to figure it all out just yet.
“I just go with the flow,” he said. I mean, yeah, it sounds cheesy, but that’s how I do things. My family knows what to do, and I’m learning as I go.”
Although he is not sure about his high school years, John has very clear goals for his future. He wants to become a vet.
“I wanna be in the medical field or like helping, but I don’t think I can handle helping humans and stuff, plus I like animals more than people, kinda,” he stated. His main college goals are Cal Poly, Pomona, or the UC schools.
Whether it’s through quiet confidence, cracking a joke in class, or snapping the perfect photo for the yearbook, John Mayoralgo is making his future years in high school as fun as possible.
