Meet Mr. Vasquez, String Cheese Enthusiast and AP English Language and Composition Extraordinaire! 

“Resist much, obey little” is a phrase from the poem “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman, which encourages a sense of individual judgment and resistance against blind obedience. This same phrase is hung in Mr. Joseph Vasquez’s room, where he has been teaching English since 1996. Although some of his students might regard him as the English department’s ‘grumpy old man’, Mr. Vasquez has dedicated his teachings to instill strength in his students in hopes that they’ll come to value and appreciate literature and language. 

After transferring from St. Paul, a catholic high school in Santa Fe Springs, CA, Mr. Vasquez spent his junior and senior years at Rosemead high School where he discovered his love for literature. Originally, he had no plans on attending college and stubbornly refused to do so until a teacher of his encouraged him to apply to UC Berkeley where he eventually went on to pursue his Bachelor of Arts in English literature and eventually his Master’s degree from Cal State Los Angeles (also in English). Mr. Vasquez wanted to pursue a Phd in literature, but life ultimately sent him on a different path. When Mr. Vasquez was first offered a teaching position at Rosemead High School, he had plans to pursue music and writing and thought a temporary position as a teacher would be a good transition, but years later here he is teaching English 3P, AP English Language and Composition, and AP English Literature at his alma mater. Over the years, he came to realize that teaching students the significance of literature was just as meaningful as being a [musical] artist. 

For as long as Mr. Vasquez has been working at Rosemead High School, he has learned as much as he has taught from both his family and his students. In the months since the Eaton fires raged across Los Angeles County and became one of the deadliest and destructive wildfires in California history, it sadly destroyed more than 9,000 buildings in Altadena, a community he and his family have called home for many years. Unfortunately, the long-term environmental and health impacts have been an ongoing struggle for Mr. Vasquez and his family even though his home was spared. Yet despite devastation, the support of his community has been a constant source of support. Mr. Vasquez also notes that this tragedy has allowed him to recognize the value of each moment and to cherish the essentials of life. Today, the City of Altadena has taken immense action to recover from the destruction caused by the fires, yet many individuals have claimed to experience delays and challenges in assessing disaster relief funds, leaving many struggling to recuperate. Mr. Vasquez remarked how shocking it was to witness it all, as they were given no space to recover or process the losses from the fires that decimated their surrounding community. In spite of these struggles, Mr. Vasquez has continuously shown up to class each and every day even while managing the aftermath of the fires, illustrating his unwavering resilience even in difficult times. 

Throughout his time here at Rosemead HIgh School, Mr. Vasquez commented on how the school and students have changed over the years since he's been teaching. He describes how school has become more stressful on all fronts, and the expectations thrown onto students to be perfect scholars while simultaneously juggling the pressures and fears of college is exhausting to see. Today, a majority of high school students are fed the belief that only through attending a prestigious university or college will you be able to achieve financial security. In fear of being insufficient or ‘not worthy’ [enough], many tend to overexert themselves. Mr. Vasquez explains how he wishes for his students to be more active in a world beyond their GPA. He describes how each interaction [amongst students] seems to be valued on its ability to further one's own ‘success’ without a solid idea of what success is for them beyond materialistic gains. He sympathizes with the struggle of having to face academic pressure along with the social pressure that follows. 

Mr. Vasquez continually encourages his students through his teaching to embrace their individuality by urging them to protest for causes they believe in, share their beliefs, and avoid habitual obedience. Over the years, Mr. Vasquez has also consistently shared his passion for literature by teaching students the fundamentals of writing exams and “planting seeds in [his] students' minds that may not grow for many years”. He credits his patience with students to his family, and how their tolerance, in his words, for the things he enjoys has changed the way he interacts with his students. Despite troubles in his personal life, Mr. Vasquez consistently tries to put his best foot forward for his students, taking time to discuss with them during class about the material and giving feedback on assignments independently. As a teacher, Mr. Vasquez recognizes the stressful environment that students have to navigate daily, and aims to prepare them to face these challenges through his lessons. 

As a teacher, academic, and parent, Mr. Vasquez is a testament to perseverance, consistency, and encouragement.