‘It felt incredible’: Md. student recognized by governor during State of the State address – WTOP News

Courtesy Kimberly Jones/Montgomery Faculty

Courtesy Kimberly Jones/ Montgomery Faculty

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Jefferson Vasquez-Reyes had two ideas when Maryland Gov. Wes Moore requested him to face throughout Moore’s State of the State tackle on Wednesday.

First, the 18-year-old Montgomery Faculty scholar mentioned, “It felt unimaginable,” as members of the Common Meeting and invited friends burst into applause within the historic State Home.

Then, Vasquez-Reyes mentioned he felt a way of duty.

“Proper after that second, I felt I had no alternative however to finish no matter I began,” he advised WTOP.

Vasquez-Reyes, 18, was being spotlighted as a hit story. The son of immigrant mother and father whose household got here to the U.S. from El Salvador, he attends the faculty and plans on turning into a health care provider.

Moore talked about Vasquez-Reyes and Montgomery Faculty as a method of highlighting Maryland’s two-year schools. “Like me, he’s on the trail to graduate from a two-year faculty,” Moore mentioned throughout his tackle.

As a younger teenager, Vasquez-Reyes discovered himself serving as a translator every time his mom and grandmother had medical appointments, together with visits to the emergency room.

“I needed to be there for my mom or grandmother whether or not it was 3 a.m. within the morning or 10 p.m. at night time.”

He mentioned his determination to pursue medication got here throughout one go to, when a Latino physician dealt with his household’s emergency.

“The surroundings felt utterly totally different,” Vasquez-Reyes mentioned. The physician’s capacity to handle the household of their native language and his understanding of their tradition boosted their consolation degree instantly.

“There was a capability to have belief,” he mentioned. At that time, he mentioned, he had decided. “That physician confirmed me the sort of impression that I might make.”

Kimberly Jones, director of Scholar Life at Montgomery Faculty’s Takoma Park and Silver Spring campus advised WTOP, “To have this second, the place we’re being acknowledged for the work that people are doing on the faculty actually does imply rather a lot.”

She mentioned the energy of the faculty comes from the variety of its college students and its workers.

“Anyone and everyone seems to be welcomed at Montgomery Faculty.”

Jones mentioned Moore’s invitation to the State of the State tackle was particularly significant given Moore’s personal history-making standing.

“On the subject of illustration — Wes Moore being the primary African American governor within the state of Maryland meant the whole lot,” Jones mentioned.

Vasquez-Reyes mentioned along with the duty he feels to attain his dream of turning into a health care provider, he additionally feels unimaginable assist, not simply from the educators at Montgomery Faculty, “however on the authorities degree — from the governor and lieutenant governor.”

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