For the fathers who raised us

The Daily invited students to share personal stories about the father figures who’ve shaped their lives — by blood or by bond — who’ve guided, taught and inspired them. These are their stories.

Carol Ileana Aguilar ’27 

When I was born, my grandfather caught me from my mother’s womb and cared for me like his own daughter. His rough and calloused hands taught me that they could create whatever I wished to make, and my childhood was filled with running around in the dirt, laying on the grass, picking fruit from our trees. With him, my joy came from peeling oranges, taking care of his many plants, watching the water fall on them like makeshift rain. My hands would get dusty and my legs would be splashed with mud, yet he bestowed upon me a childhood that was cut short for him. It was finding little things to fix around the house with wire, oil and steel. It never came from luxuries; it came from time spent together in each other’s company, each other’s warmth and hugs. It came from running into his arms and being met by his big puffy jacket filled with the aroma of cologne and churros when he returned from morning Mass. It came from a bond that did not beg to be bought but was created through blood and the gift of being a father.

Angelina Rivas ’26

Everyone always questioned me when I called you Papa, Dad: “Don’t you mean just Grandpa or Dad?” They didn’t understand that you were a father to everyone who knew you. How you listened without judgment and intuitively handled every situation. How you embodied structure and discipline: wake up every morning by 8 a.m. for work, make your coffee, read your newspaper and start the day. 

On Sundays, you kept moving: get up early, do your laundry— seven t-shirts, three pairs of jeans, eight pairs of socks and underwear — “That’s all you need” — put on some oldies and take care of house chores by noon. You took pride in everything you did. You always carried your brown bristle brush to slick back your hair in your Ford truck, placing it right next to the keychains of me and my sisters from our Holy First Communion. These are memories and values you’ve instilled in me forever. From an unwavering drive and a spirit far too contagious to extinguish. If I close my eyes, I can be transported to the back of your truck, on our way to a Dodgers game, listening to The Isley Brothers, feeling protected, grounded and seen all over again.

Lita Moua ’27

“Why is there a sun and a moon?” Random questions rolled off my tongue every morning you dropped me off at school. Somehow, you always seemed to give a plausible reply to “Can you tell me a story?”  “How come airplanes can fly?” or  “How come I can see colors?” Endless replies to endless questions.

I reached for a picture book, but you handed me “Little Women” instead. I was five.

I turned each page, cover to cover, not understanding a single word — only the weight (literally) of the story in my hands. Ten years later, I read it again and finally understood what once was just a heavy book.

A seat by the dinner table was a seat… for homework… something  I used to not dread. You guided me through simple math problems so that I could  later do harder ones on my own. While you couldn’t help me with those, you helped me get there.

You were my first exposure to education. What I call my strength — my education — is wholly yours. For that, I thank you.

Tensaye Ballard ’27

I call you my little daddy but there’s nothing little about your heart or your presence. Any room you walk into automatically feels your warmth, your charm, your kindness. Your ability to make people laugh is incredible. But most importantly the care you have for others is the trait I admire most. You are always looking for ways to bless and be a light to those around you. You think about how to make people feel loved and seen. You have such an incredible heart which is truly God-given. Your impact on this Earth has already been felt immensely by those who have the privilege to encounter your presence but most importantly it has been felt by your children. I speak for all of us when I say that we couldn’t have asked for a better father. We tease you for your corny jokes but we secretly love them because you’re able to make us laugh even when we don’t feel like it. In addition to happiness, you also bring peace and security because I know that if I can always come to you for advice. It’s such a powerful gift. When I say that I am blessed to have you, I hope you know how deeply I mean that. You gave me a second chance at life. You were there to pick me up from the orphanage and took me in as your own daughter, and I am eternally grateful. I love you so much, and I want you to know that you played a huge role in shaping me into the person I am today. I am lucky to be your Sweet T.

Rebecca Alcalá ’27

Cada mañana a las seis, mi papá y yo nos subíamos al coche, café en su mano, mochila en la mía. Hablábamos de todo: nuestros días, la escuela, su película favorita “The Martian,” y de mis sueños grandes. Me ponía sus canciones favoritas desde los Beatles o “Piano Man” de Billy Joel. Por diez años, manejaba tres horas al día para que yo pudiera estudiar en la mejor escuela. Nunca se quejó. Nunca me dejó sentir que le debía algo. Solo decía: “Tú haz tu mejor esfuerzo … y Dios proveerá.”

En cada concierto, cada competencia, ahí estaba con su cámara, su sonrisa, y su clásico “¡Ponte pa la foto!” Y en mis días más bajos o cuando no me va bien en algo siempre me dice“¿Sabías que estoy muy orgulloso de ti?” Y lo dice con tanta calma, que duele bonito.

Él y mi mamá dejaron México, su familia, y todo lo que conocía, para que mi hermana y yo pudiéramos tener más. Trabaja desde casa desde hace 17 años, no porque era fácil, sino porque quería estar construyendo legos, jugando barbies, ayudándome con tareas y simplemente estando.

Y aunque estoy lejos, lo siento cerquita. Porque todo lo que soy, empezó con todo lo que él decidió ser.

Leslie Bravo ’27 

“Pónganse los zapatos de fútbol, vamos a practicar afuera.“ 

My dad would say this to my sisters and me, and we instantly knew what it meant: hours of footwork drills, speed exercises and relentless sprints if we kept making mistakes. It was tough love, but we understood that it was his way of showing us he cared. Each drill, each repetition, taught us not just soccer skills, but lessons in resilience. After each practice, as we gathered the homemade soccer equipment my dad built for us, he’d share his wisdom. One phrase that’s stuck with me all these years is: “Cuando te caes, te levantas y te esfuerzas más, aunque te duela. Haz todo con una sonrisa y con humildad. Que no te importe lo que digan los demás.” That lesson in perseverance and humility has shaped who I am today.

Before my freshman year at Stanford, I wanted to spend a summer fully focused on my family. My parents never let me work during school to prioritize my studies and soccer, but that summer, they finally gave me the green light. I had the option to pick an easy job, but instead, I thought about what my dad had been doing for over 20 years — something that demanded incredible strength and resilience. So, I decided to help him as a truck driver assistant. The job was tough. I woke up early, worked under the scorching sun, lifted heavy loads and restocked non-stop. And yet my dad had been doing this for 20 years, always with a smile. It was then that I truly understood the depth of his sacrifice and work ethic — how he did it all for us, without complaint, with the guidance of God.

For everything you’ve done, Dad, I want to say gracias. Thank you for the love, the hard work, the countless sacrifices. Your humility, humor and tireless spirit have shaped me into the person I am today. And I thank God every day for the strength and example you’ve given me. Siempre echándole ganas, just like you taught me.

Theresa Nguyen ’27

”Phone call with my dad”

What did you do today, bố ?

Nothing.

That’s not true, I’m sure you did something.

Bố go to SF and visit Bà Nội. Play with Bảo Anh and Ngọc Anh. Same thing.

Hey, so you did do something! What else did you do?

Eat, sleep. Bố clean up the backyard. Walk Bà Nội around neighbor hood. Busy.

You literally just said you didn’t do anything today.

But Bố do this every day.

Then you do something everyday. That’s a good thing.

Maybe.

Bố, what are you doing after this?

Nothing.

Oh my gosh.

Ha!

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