Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

“Hearing José”

Everyday I hear José.  José is an intern in my office.  He's a wonderful guy.  I learn more from José with each passing day.

José's mom has been ill.  The last twenty five years she has fought and overcome breast cancer, severe pneumonia, heart disease, and excessively clogged arteries which resulted in a recent aortic and mitral heart valve replacement.  In this bi-decade process she's generated a lot of hospital bills, drained the family’s life savings and has fought incessantly for her life and some assistance from the government.  They still currently owe about $ 12,000 even after Medicaid paid the two recent valve replacements.  

She is in the same position as thousands of Americans.  

José is a senior at UTEP.  He works here part time, is enrolled for three classes, is in the middle of his student teaching, and works as a part-time substitute teacher.  That’s more than a full schedule.  Also, José recently applied for a social studies teacher position at the Clint Independent School district at a career fair.  He was one of over forty applicants, and was the only one selected.  Undoubtedly, he was selected because they knew what we now know—he is wise beyond his years.  

José works real hard.   When he ran track in high school he wasn't an elite runner.  So, he went to the track everyday, ready to work and learn from his coach and colleagues.  He set a goal.  He wanted to run a lap under 50 seconds, a distant goal from his original time of 1:07 seconds.  He wanted to beat the guys at Burges, Ysleta and Parkland who could all do it in 52 seconds or less.  While he wasn't the blessed with natural speed, he achieved his goal.

He was also a cornerback and middle linebacker for the Riverside Rangers.  During those years, Riverside was a perennial power house in 4A football, winning the district championship frequently as well as participating in the state playoffs.  

What he learned in his time was that if you set a goal, and you're disciplined, you can accomplish anything.  Now, he wants to go and share his wisdom with students at Clint.   

Here's what José says about his next endeavor:

“I look forward to working with students, parents, community members and the school district on creating a cycle of high standards, one of which they might not think is achievable but of which they are definitely capable of.  A cycle which promotes reciprocity within the city, that will produce doctors, nurses, and surgeons for the Medical Center of the Americas, engineers, chemists and physicists for the crown jewel of the army Fort Bliss, and civic leaders who will fight for progressive change city, state and nation wide.  I am constantly looking forward to future positive change but always look back to give thanks, for the little that I have achieved was not on my own.”

Everyday it's a gift to our office that we can "Hear José."



Eliot Shapleigh

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