Tim-Andreix Lazaro Belongs at Cuyamaca

 

Finding Motivation During the Pandemic

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Tim-Andreix Lazaro has packed up his things and headed to campus nearly every morning to use the free campus Wi-Fi. In the early morning, he would set up at a table on campus and do his schoolwork until 6 p.m. Each evening, he would leave campus to pick his mother up from work.

 

Lazaro takes advantage of the free campus Wi-Fi because at home he can become easily distracted. “I know that if I were to do my assignments at home, I would get lazy and procrastinate,” said Lazaro. “Especially because I have a tendency to go straight to YouTube.” Some of his favorite YouTubers include AJayy, Teacher and Coach, as well as Larissa and Lauren.

 

As many students know, keeping up motivation during the pandemic has been challenging. For those students who are struggling to stay focused, Lazaro has a piece of advice. “One thing I remind myself of is that this is my education, and I don’t want to waste it,” said Lazaro. He also finds keeping a planner to keep track of your assignments is also a big help. However, if all else fails, Lazaro is a firm believer in the power of coming to campus.

 

The Duality of Growing Up FilipinX-American

Lazaro moved from the Philippines to the United States when he was about four-years-old. He first lived San Francisco for two years before moving to Texas. Lazaro lived in Texas until 2008, after that he and his mother settled in San Diego. Upon arrival, he noticed a huge difference in the San Diego FilipinX community. “The FilipinX pride was in full bloom, just out in the open,” said Lazaro about San Diego.

 

During his time in San Diego high schools, Lazaro made a point to communicate often with the FilipinX students to form a solid community. He recalls an instance where he spoke Tagalog to a fellow classmate; she didn’t seem comfortable responding in Tagalog. When Lazaro asked her why, she said that she was worried she would stop sounding white to her other classmates.

 

Lazaro didn’t blame that classmate for being uncomfortable to speak Tagalog in front of her American peers. In Texas, Lazaro was wary of speaking Tagalog in public due to the tense environment for minorities. He had a fear of Texans telling him to speak English, so he too had once tried to blend in with the people in his environment, rather than stand out. “We belong here. We should be proud of our Asian-American heritage,” said Lazaro

 

Lazaro is currently pursuing an associate degree in English at Cuyamaca with plans to immediately return to get an additional associate degree in Math. His main goal in life is to finish school and get a job that will allow him to live comfortably while also helping his mother.