Ever since his freshman year, Daniel Zaid Gomez, a senior at Eastlake High School, has never missed a day of school or been late to class.
Having good friends, great teachers and the opportunity to learn guitar and explore a future career in law enforcement have motivated Daniel to attend school every day.
“The best thing about going to this school is being able to express yourself and all of the programs that they have,” Daniel said.
In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, Daniel was selected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees regular meeting in August.
From the beginning, Daniel's mom, Alva Gomez, was determined that her son would not miss a single day of school. She even cut short a family trip to Arizona so that Daniel could attend his first day of preschool.
Since then, Daniel and his younger brother, Emiliano, an eighth grader at Eastlake Middle School, have made school attendance a priority.
Daniel's perfect attendance reflects the values instilled by his parents, especially his mom, who has always emphasized the importance of education and how excelling in school will pave the way for his future success.
“I have always told my sons that the best inheritance that we as parents can leave them is a good education,” Alva Gomez said in Spanish. “Going to school is like taking a step forward every day. If you miss a day, you will fall behind, and you won’t know what to expect the next day.”
Daniel said the exceptional teachers at Eastlake High School are one of the reasons he comes to class every day. They go above and beyond to engage their students in the subjects they teach.
“First what motivates me are the teachers,” said Daniel, who expects to graduate in June. “Having a good teacher that you could talk to every day makes a big difference.”
Daniel serves as an excellent role model for other Falcons and students across SISD who attend school daily to seize their opportunities for success, both now and in the future.
SISD has introduced “ALL IN for Attendance,” a districtwide campaign designed to boost daily school attendance by recognizing and rewarding students for their consistent attendance with prizes such as televisions, Bluetooth speakers, Xboxes, PlayStations, bikes, and more.
Eastlake High School Principal Gilbert Martinez said these incentives serve to motivate students to attend school. They also help to recognize students like Daniel who prioritize school and achieve academic success as a result.
“I know we have perfect attendance for a school year or for a semester but not for three years!,” said Martinez, who was surprised to learn that Daniel had never been absent from school.
“Daniel is very deserving, and he's got very good grades as well. He's a good student (and) a great young man,” Martinez added.
Not only does Daniel have perfect attendance, but he also excels in the classroom. He is one of the top students in the school’s Career and Education Technology law enforcement program. Daniel learned about the program while attending middle school in another school district. He and his parents decided to transfer to Eastlake High School for his freshman year so he could take part in the program to see if it was the right path for him.
Because of his dedication to his studies, Daniel was chosen this year as one of 20 students to receive high-end training, including tactical and self-defense work. He will help keep SISD safe by working security at the Student Activities Complex, pep rallies, and other events. This experience will provide him with real-life knowledge and put him on track to graduate with a level three certification, which will allow him to find employment as a security officer while he attends college and studies for a career in law enforcement or nursing.
Apart from his law enforcement class, Daniel is excited about his guitar class where he gets to play his electric guitar. He taught himself a few chords and then joined the school's guitar program to improve his skills. Being a fan of Metallica, he loves playing the band's song "Ride the Lightning."
Daniel plans to continue his attendance streak during his last year of high school. He said he does not want to miss a moment of his senior year.
“It’s my last year in high school, so I want to make it count,” Daniel said. “I want to make more memories, attend prom, attend homecoming, attend the games. Because it's my last year, you have to make those memories count.”