Juan Rodriguez shares his story. A 1992 Tolleson Union High School JAG alumni, Mayor Rodriguez has been serving public office for 15 years and is currently the Mayor of the City of Tolleson. He continues to support JAG students and inspires them to reach for their goals reminding them that they are not alone.

When Martin was a sophomore at Tolleson Union High School, he became one of the first students to join the community-based JAG program in the City of Tolleson. Currently a senior at Georgetown University, he is grateful for the opportunities and skills he gained in JAG. 

From being alone in school to making friends, finding a place for himself, DuyAnh’s story is one of constant growth, the kind of growth that brings others up alongside him. Wanting to add leadership experience to his resume, DuyAnh ran for JAG Treasurer during his senior year.

Shanahyah was supposed to speak at the 2020 Career Development Conference as the winner of the Public Speaking Competition. Due to the pandemic, she was unable to share this live. She believes there's so many different pathways you can take after school and that JAG helps you learn your personality, your likes, and your qualities. "I feel that JAG shows you how to create a life after high school.” 

Nasik attended Coronado High School and knew she wanted to become a nurse. Her JAG Coordinator helped her develop her career path and the step by step guidance she needed to succeed.

Madeline Zavala wasn’t thinking about graduating at all. High school was hard, confusing, and disorienting. She couldn’t think far ahead - it was like a long walk with no end in sight. “I was just thinking, ok, I’ll get my GED.” The next school year Maddie joined Tempe High School’s Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates class.

Celina’s first years of life were a struggle. At a young age, Celina and her mother fled to the United States seeking a better life after enduring years of abuse. “My mom and I went through a situation of domestic violence with her husband,” Celina recalls, “We had to escape to a shelter as soon as we could.”

“In middle school. I was getting in trouble a lot. And because of that, I was consistently getting calls home, I was getting returned home." Like many students Prince found himself caught in a kind of feedback loop: continued struggles led to discouragement. Discouragement led to further struggles. “And honestly I'm surprised that I wasn't expelled.”