Annandale High School Instructional Assistant and Aspiring Teacher, Mario Ramos, Earns U.S. Citizenship
Fleeing violence and poverty Mario Villanueva Ramos landed in Annandale, where he found a community of support and a land of opportunity.
Mr. Ramos came to the United States in search of more opportunity for himself and his fiancée, Amelia. Upon his arrival, he quickly realized that, if he wanted a better life, he would have to learn English and earn his high school diploma. Through hard work and the support of his teachers, Mr. Ramos attended Annandale Adult High School, eventually earning his high school diploma.
After graduation, Mr. Ramos worked in various jobs in the Annandale area. Then, during the pandemic, he returned to Annandale High School, this time as a staff member. He started as a classroom monitor and quickly built strong relationships with staff and students alike. His impact was so strong that he was selected by the Class of 2021 to deliver their commencement address. Each year, Mr. Ramos became more integral to the community referred to as Atom Nation. Currently, he supports students in ESOL and Spanish classes as an Instructional Assistant, is the sponsor of the Spanish Honor Society, and serves as a mentor in their On Time Graduation Program.
Earlier this year, he was scheduled to take the citizenship exam. Mr. Ramos relied on the support of his History teacher colleagues to help him prepare. In May, he told a few of his colleagues about passing the exam and word made it back to the Principal, Shawn DeRose. The staff was so excited for Mr. Ramos that they organized a surprise celebration after school.
Mr. Ramos’ citizenship was made official at a Naturalization Ceremony on Saturday, June 9, where he took the Oath of Allegiance. His wife, Amelia, and their three children were present at the ceremony.
Recently, Mr. Ramos has enrolled in NOVA's Teaching Professional Program, where he is working towards completing the first step in becoming a licensed teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At NOVA, as at Annandale, Mr. Ramos has excelled, earning a place on the Dean’s list for academic excellence.
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Annandale HS Commencement Speaker's Journey Resonates With Students Who Are Learning English
On June 1, 2021, we were proud to host the Annandale High School graduation ceremony on our stadium field for the first time in over 50 years. The ceremony was a huge success and was featured on NBC4 Washington and Telemundo 44 Washington DC!
Jimmy Le, President of the Class of 2021, spoke of some of the stereotypes that our students may face, and advised his fellow classmates to “remain critical, to always hold yourself and others accountable, and when the world is writing a story that you do not like, pick up the pen for yourself.”
Mario Ramos, the keynote speaker and classroom monitor here at Annandale, reminded our graduates that, “There are people who will judge you by skin color, the clothes you wear or how well you speak English. But here at Annandale High School things are different.” Asking each graduate to spread The Annandale Way to the world around them, never stop knocking on the doors in front of them, and “most importantly, to open any doors you can for those around you.”
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