Alejandre enjoys humbling experience
By Miguel Melendez
Adan and Rosa Alejandre Guillen went through a roller coaster of emotions when they left their native Michoac n, Mexico, some 20 years ago. They were relieved and excited to start a new life in a country where, if you work hard and show dedication, you can amount to anything. There also was a sense of fear, though, of not knowing how to adapt, a bit of culture clash where certain things are much different than what the Guillens were used to.
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It's been a long and at times lonely road, but the Guillens steered ahead and have four children who have dedicated their lives to succeeding in academics as well as athletics.
At the center of it is Rosemead High School quarterback Angel Alejandre.
The senior, who boasts a 3.7 GPA, is as humble as they come. For as long as he's known, his life has always revolved around sports.
He grew up playing soccer with his father, and he still does.
They get together every Sunday morning and play in a soccer league, like most Mexican families do over the weekend. They also get together after those games for good ol' carne asada, like most Mexican families do over the weekend.
When Rosa and Adan came to the U.S., they were just happy they could offer their children a different kind of life, one in which there wouldn't be a limit to their ambitions and dreams.
So far, all four children are taking advantage.
Maria, 20, and Fernando, 18, both attended and participated in cross country and track and field at Rosemead. Both now attend Rio Hondo College.
Alejandre's younger brother, Adan, 12, might follow in his siblings' footsteps, just like Alejandre did, by taking up sports in high school.
But it wasn't easy for Alejandre to join football.
In Mexican culture, it's not customary for kids to join high school sports teams. Many are expected to return straight home from school to do house chores or work to help sustain the family.
Fortunately for Alejandre, that wasn't the case. His mom was fine with him playing flag football in middle school - up until when Alejandre was tackled hard and his bottom teeth and gums were pushed back.
The dentist fixed his teeth, but there was no way Alejandre's mom would now let him play high school football.
"I told him, `That's what happened to you in middle school, imagine what can happen in high school,' " said Rosa, who is a homemaker.
Alejandre was saddened by the notion that he probably wasn't going to get to join the Panthers team.
He pleaded with his mom to let him join. Alejandre's father gave way, but he still needed his mom to cave in.
"I saw how sad he was," said Rosa in Spanish. "He really wanted to be out there with his friends and play what he's loved for such a long time.
"Finally I said `yes' because I didn't like seeing him around the house sad."
Fortunately for Alejandre, he didn't have to use Plan B.
"He said he was going to bring a group of friends with him from the team so they could convince me to let him play," Rosa said with a laugh. "I couldn't believe his friends wanted him that bad to play."
They did want him to play that bad. And Alejandre has gone on to be a three- year varsity player, starting at quarterback the last two years.
He's a key figure to the Panthers' success this season, and he'll be counted on when Rosemead visits Temple City on Friday night.
Alejandre's dad, Adan, works the third shift driving and delivering products for Nature's Produce. He works from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m.
Adan sleeps through the day and then heads to work, where he makes up the routes for the other drivers before he goes out on his.
But on Friday nights, Adan makes an extra effort to be at Alejandre's games. And not only does he get to see his star quarterback play in the first half before he heads for work, he gets to see him from the sidelines, his face beaming with pride.
"It's cool when you get to see your dad celebrating and giving you a high five," Alejandre said.
When Alejandre was a kid, he didn't have much. But what proved more important was having both parents there supporting him in whatever he was involved in - Alejandre also is the starting point guard for the Panthers basketball team.
He lives in a dangerous neighborhood where gangs seem to be nearly everywhere.
But staying in sports, Rosa says, is what helped Alejandre and his siblings stay away from developing bad habits.
There was also that one trip to Michoacon. Alejandre was in sixth grade when his entire family spent a month in his parents' native land. That trip proved to be special for two reasons: it was the first time Rosa had seen her mother in more than a decade, and it was when Alejandre put his life in perspective.
Before he left for the trip, Alejandre's aunt gave him $40 for spending money. But where they stayed was so humbling that the experience of staying there opened his eyes as to how much they have in their home in El Monte.
How humbling? Well, turns out that $40 lasted the entire month Alejandre was in Mexico.
"I felt rich," he said. "In Mexico that's 400 pesos, and with that kind of money you can buy so much."
So when people say Alejandre is as humble as they get, it's because it's true.
"You work hard and you dedicate yourself and the stars will align," Rosemead coach Matt Koffler said. "He's proven that with hard work, the results will pay off."
One of Rosa's biggest concerns was whether her kids would find their way after high school. After all, Rosa and Adan were schooled until the third and seventh grades, respectively.
But the stars are aligning. Alejandre, who has taken math as high as calculus and is taking physics, wants to attend Cal Poly Pomona and get involved in business management to open his own business or be involved in some way with sports.
The pain and troubling times Rosa and Adan went through 20 years ago were worth it because they now see their hard work paying off.
Alejandre is a product of that hard work. And he's just getting started.
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College Level Athletes
Freshman Levi Osborn allows depth at corner for the huskies
sin town giant,
wow, i did not know that ganesha turned him down, maybe thats why hes so angry and stupid. maybe he thinks he has a point to prove. thanks for the heads up.
Boomer,
Why the hell would you suggest that Dumbfield take over another school? We all clearly know that he can't coach if his life depended on it.
Dumbfield attempted to take the Ganesha job 4 years ago and they turned him down because they already knew what kind of classless individual he was/is.
ok, i gotta put in my two cents about duarte. i agree that the coach has no class at all. i'd hate to see a man like him coach pop warner, just thinking about some of the things he'd say to his 6 year old opponents is bone chilling. You can't just go around and act like your better than every other team because you won league two years back. you talked so much smack last year about being champions, and then La Puente came out and shut you up, not to mention losing in the first round of cif. yeah, you guys have some players that went D-1, but you have good players, not a good team. your team is filled with good individuals, but crutch will never be able to put that talent together and make a solid program. its funny how everytime they lose he has a box full of excuses.
i would expect some of the comments he makes out of an assistant coach, but not a head coach. the year duarte went to the semis in cif, they didn't make a good team, just play makers. all they did was bounce the ball to the outside when they ran, and they had to speed to make big plays happen.
didn't this guy quit last year after the brawl, then come back? why did he come back? still had some more trash talking to do? why doesn't he take over a school like ganesha or bassett, or even keppel and we'll see how good of a coach he is.
he will never have class like coach maggiore, coach gano, coach bogan, and coach De Lelio. Do you hear coach D from workman getting all loud and crazy about taking a losing program and having a winning record two out the last three seasons? nope.
this guy still needs some growing up to do.
HARD WORKING PEOPLE !
Not a tweeker like you making posts @ 2am . WHAT A LOSER !
This is an PERFECT EXAMPLE of what is wrong with this country !
FIGHT ON ALEJANDRE FAMILIA
FIGHT ON
TM
did they swim or sneak across the border? I need some salsa...how much?
What the hell are most of you going on about? Here's a nice human-interest piece on a good-guy QB at Rosemead, and you're using the comments to war over whether your team is better than their team? Grow up. There is a place for everything, and this isn't the place for that.
BTW: Nice story, Miguel.
FALCON PRIDE.......
Huskie pride starting a soph. QB. Admit Cameron Deen moves that team anything less and SH become normal..I will take Walnut to defeat SH next year.
South Hills Freshman whipped on the Northview Freshman team... Northview JV team whipped on the South Hills JV team... Lets see how SH does next year.. Huskie Prides believes they will be just as good..
Aztec
How is pointing out the fact that Duarte is 0-4 bagging on the school? I was dealing with facts. The coach made a stupid comment. Dispute anything I said or don't comment.
Happy
I couldn't check my diaper because its on your face covering all that ugliness. I think you need to go back to last time I commented on your dumb comment about me wanting acceptance. I don't give a rats ass if you accept me or not. Also my humility is different than a head coach of a football team leading teens. Much more is expected of a coach. BTW Its nice to see you finally spelled Sally Field correctly. Spell check works wonders for the illiterate doesn't it?
Prep fan... Jr class not very good?
Miles Bevel- 2 year starter
Ify Umodu- 2 year starter, number 1 player in valley
Geoff Vaughns- 2 year starter
Alec Griffin- Man child, team sacks leader
Sophmores:
Peter Nonu- 2 way starter
Siose Aiono- 6'4 285... inelligable after transfering from los altos.. comes back tomorrow
Freshman:
Travis Santiago- will be starting quarterback.. hes good
Jamel Hart- played with varsity team during passing league
Vincent Hernandez- remember the name, hes the real deal
The huskies will be as good next year if not better.
Hey King Stud...Sally Field wants her Oscar back. Just might be on to you. That humilty comment...I've read that somewhere before. Hey it's just a matter of time. But at least you've finally gotten the acceptance you always wanted. Congratulations! Does that mean it's safe to have adult conversations again?
I hope so. This year's crowd is the most civil and informed SINCE THE BLOG BEGAN...or is it just that Bishop Amat is back...AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT.
. Why ruin it for everyone now that everyone loves you. YES EVERYONE LOVES YOU....again EVERYONE LOVES YOU....AGAIN...EVERYONE LOVES YOU...AGAIN....EVERYONE LOVE YOU.....NOW CHECK YOUR DIAPER YOU BIG BABY!
;-)
KING STUD;
Now I see your over here bagging on DUARTE? COME ON GROW UP! Man that's childs play. Do you get off by roaming article to article talking smack about different schools? You know what's funny, you neve mention the school your rooting for. You just like stirring the pot don't you! Man your joke!
King Stud,
Be careful.. You're growing on us.
"I expect to win it handily, to be honest with you," Crutchfield said.
Hey Crutch nice humility lesson you are teaching kids. Lets not mistake being over the top for just making a stupid statement. Even if you think they will kick ass in league you should never say it to be put in print. Problem is the coach is most likely right considering the crappy league they are in.
Isn't this the same coach whose team got in that big brawl last year? It's amazing sometimes what school districts let go on all in the name of winning. Problem is Duarte isn't winning this year. Going 0-4 in preseason running the table in league then getting a first round game on the road usually isn't the best road to the title. Next time Crutch try and us a little more discretion. I think all new coaches should go thru some media training so they don't suffer foot in mouth disease.
Hey Angel, congrats on getting on the paper man. Inspiring story and I'm glad you're a Panther.
WIN ALREADY,
Win or Beat , both are wrong...try Defeat or defeated.
Hey puta DP,
You are right. I have not been around for the last 3 weeks. I like how you keep track of me. (you must be a maricon). Next time my vacation is up I will ask permission from you to take the time off. You are right we lost the last 4 games. I thought we would split the wins. Coach took out a couple of players, he has a plan. Now the season counts and I am not going anywhere. I will respond even if we loose. I'm sure we will be competetive. If anything, as long as we beat your sorry excuse for a team. Hugs and kisses for you sweetheart.
GO FALCONS.....
WILL PEOPLE GET THIS RIGHT ALREADY....IT'S "BEAT" SOMEONE" OR WE WILL "BEAT" THEM...YOU DON'T "WIN" SOMEBODY....OR "WIN" THEM....HOW HARD IT THAT?
LOL
CHINGON;
YOU ARE A PENDEJO, WHO HAS DIARRHEA OF THE MOUTH,(THE SPANISH TYPE).In the beginning of the season you came in here all big and CHINGON!!! HOW DUARTE, was going to win big and just win everybody. But since your team is 0 -4, you've disappeared. Now you're back, because there's a little story on COACH CROUCH! And by the looks of it, he still making idiotic remarks. You know something CHINGON, you must be his little bastard child, because you talk just like him! Put your little tail between your little leggs, and go away! Maybe next year you can come back here all(CHINGON)!
That means bad azz in spanish, for those who didn't know that!LOL...
Great Story . I had a chance to read it in todays SGV paper . As I was reading that GREAT story about a fellow Panther , I was also subjected to reading the other GARBAGE that ALWAYS spews from Crutchs' mouth . Altougn the statements are true, he should have chosen better words . TYPICAL !
Fight On
TM
Obviously Duarte doesn't understand what being a class act is. I played college football and when we got a big lead we let the subs play-if they scored so be it. And when it was obviously over we ran the ball. This is what all of the pro teams do, most college teams, but some high school coaches just don't get it. By the way, Ganesha is 2-2 so we are winning now.
We played better teams than Duarte during our losing streak, including Chino Hills, and they understood how to win a game without demeaning their opponents. It all comes back to you though. Even if Duarte wins league they don't have a shot at CIF. Nothing against the kids there, it's just that in my mind moral superiority always defeats meatheads.
Talks cheap Coach. You have no idea what would hapen until the game is played. Win sme games then talk 0-4, nice start
Listen, they're (Azusa) doing a great job, but if we played Ganesha, Marshall and Mountain View like they did, we would have won all those games 70-0," Crutchfield said.
Adan Y Rosa muy buen trabajo con su familia. Que dios los bendiga y mucha suerte en el futuro.
Angel be greatfull for your parents.
Go Falcons....
Falcon Fan,
You are going thru a down year and it has nothing to do with your coach. The talent is not there this year and the team is in a rebuilding phase. Be patient it comes in cycles. Keep positive and and the winning will come back eventually. All teams go thru this. So. Hills will go thru this next year as their Jr. and Soph. class is not very loaded. The Cameron Deen Class is going to be where they top off at for awhile. Duarte will be back.
come on shut up with that run up the score bull...u gotta be kidding me hes just saying they would beat the mess out of those teams....and u say duarte has never really been a really great program...um that program went to the simi finals 2 years ago and they have Players in D1/ PAC 10 school...If Thats not good i dont know what is...Yeah theyre 0-4 but..so what its pre season...gimmie a break..I Bet If Your Kid Played For Crutch He Wouldn't Have Anything Bad to say about him........
Who ever wants to respond to what i sald come on....
Falcon Pride......
The season we are looking forward to starts tomorrow. We plan on beating all of you. Sierra Vista, Gladstone, Azusa, Workman, Bassett and La Puente. We especially look forward on beating Azusa and LP. It is my belief that the last two schools suck at football.
For that Ganesha parent. "Put your big girl panties on and get over it". If you had any pride you would win a game or two. Till then keep your loosing trap shut.
NO CLASS FALCONS...
GO FALCONS.....
Let's play some football and see who is on top in our little league.
That's just Crutch trying to make a point. Sometimes he's over the top, but he's just trying to make a point about their schedule.
We're still being offended by Crutchfield. If they played Ganesha they would win 70-0? Once again, only a coach with NO CLASS would state that they will run up the score on anyone, even though they are 0-4! Duarte has never even been that great of a football program, but they will take advantage of anyone when they are down. Crutchfield would run the score up in a powder puff game! Please don't give him anymore free press.