For this alumnus, it didn’t take long to feel right at home when he came to VISD. Christian Almanzar is a 2019 graduate of Victoria West High School, the only VISD school he’d attended.
After growing up and attending school in Calhoun County ISD, Almanzar and his family moved to Victoria during his sophomore year of high school. For some, this could be the worst thing imaginable. Moving from the place you’ve grown up, leaving your friends and essentially starting over at a new school can be terrifying for most 15/16-year-olds. However, that wasn’t the case here.
Once in Victoria, Christian joined the National Honor Society and became very active in the Victoria West Band of Warriors. He had teachers who made him feel at home in a new place, helping him reach his goals along the way.
While Christian was able to make plenty of friends in his short two and a half years in VISD, he considers his former band members family, stating, “The band was and is my family, and during my time with the band, I made amazing memories and had fun experiences traveling the country with them, and even making Area Finals which was the best time of my life.”
Speaking of Area Finals, Christian’s band members impacted his life so much, that’s where one of his favorite memories at West stemmed from, the other being the Band of Warriors’ end-of-year trip to Branson, Missouri.
Though he is now over 2,000 miles away at Washington State University (WSU), Almanzar holds the people and memories from Victoria West close. “VISD helped change my life for the better. It gave me every opportunity to succeed with the amazing teachers who came into my life, and a lot of classes that were broad and helped expand my knowledge, as well as making my school feel like a second home to me. VISD gave me every opportunity to succeed, and I’m glad I was a part of this school district.”
When asked specifically how his teachers impacted him, Almanzar said, “These teachers helped change my life for the greater, and I am very thankful that they were here for me all throughout high school. These teachers (Dr. Karr, Mrs. Laskowski, Mrs. Rozner, Mr. Mallory and Mr. Partida) did everything they could to help me succeed, and I am thankful for all the wisdom they shared.”
Almanzar, now a junior at WSU, is majoring in Anthropology with a focus in Archaeology and Ancient History in Eastern Europe. He currently works in the Athletic Department for the university and Pac-12 Conference.
“My time at West really helped change my life for the better,” said Almanzar. “I was introduced to amazing teachers who really cared about me and my goals, and I made plenty of friends who really made school fun for me. Victoria West helped shape my life.”
As for Christian’s advice to current VISD students, he said, “Always communicate with your teachers. Your teachers want what’s best for you and they care about their students. Never be afraid to talk to your teachers and ask for help. And always keep on top of your grades and studies as well. Grades are very important, and your GPA will help you in so many ways to help you get scholarships.”
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Talk to us! We want to share about VISD alumni and what you’ve been up to since high school. If you are a VISD alumnus or know any alumni, email us at visdcommunications@visd.net with your contact information, and we’ll reach out to gather information from you.
Sienna Rodriguez is the communications specialist at Victoria ISD.