Moving to a new school can be daunting for many students. Incoming senior Angelo Espiritu started at MAS in 6th grade after receiving a letter from MAS. He wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for him, as he had to get accustomed to a new school environment where uniforms were required. He is now very proud of his journey at MAS.
Angelo is an exemplary student at MAS, taking his academic journey very seriously. From middle school, Angelo says he developed an infinity for English class, especially enjoying nonfiction reading on issues like Civics, leading to his strong interest in becoming a lawyer, which is Angelo’s ultimate educational goal.
MAS strongly encourages its high school students to take dual credit classes at CNM and UNM to challenge themselves academically and help them learn how to navigate a post-secondary educational environment. Angelo believes this has been one of the most rewarding parts of attending MAS. During his freshman year, Angelo started taking dual credit classes during the Covid shutdown. His favorite class at MAS, Chemistry, taught by Mr. Donaghe, led him to take two-semester chemistry courses at CNM and continue taking dual credit classes in various subjects.
Angelo will take many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) classes in his senior year, including calculus I, computer programming, biology, and the second semester of chemistry. He plans to participate in more computer-based activities like competitions and join the Computer Science Club at CNM and the Computing Society at UNM. By the time Angelo graduates from MAS, he will have completed associate’s degrees in computer science, pre-law, and philosophy.
After graduating in 2023, he plans to attend college, majoring in computer science and minoring in political science. He also wants to enroll in ROTC while at college. After completing his undergraduate education, he plans on attending law school, possibly in the eastern part of the United States, because he has family there.
Like many students, Angelo saw positive and negative aspects of attending school during the Covid shutdown. He liked some of the flexibility presented by the shutdown, in which he got to do schoolwork more flexibly but was frustrated by the lack of ability to interact with and meet new people.
Angelo says one of the things he loves the most about MAS is the overall student support system. “You get the attention you need here. There are a lot of people who have helped me on my path to where I am right now. Teachers encouraged me to take hard classes and challenge myself academically,” said Angelo. “Everyone has a different experience at MAS, and your experience is dependent on your community. The community here at MAS is wonderful. “
In addition to his strong commitment to academics, Angelo still knows how to enjoy life and have fun. He likes to read, play the guitar, play video games and play soccer.
MAS is proud of Angelo’s accomplishments, and we look forward to seeing his bright future!