Lodi High junior aims for college so he can help others
The summer before junior year at Lodi High School, Jayvin Herrejon knew what he wanted to do in life after meeting his grandparents in Mexico for the first time.
A tenacious student and track athlete, he was taken aback that relatives and their neighbors in the town of Puebla did not have access to basic needs like running water.
As someone who takes academics and exercise seriously — he’s quite skilled in both shot put and discus throw — it became clear that Herrejon wanted to help.
“They had to put water into barrels every so often; there was no hot water, they didn’t have many things that we don’t appreciate here as much,” said Herrejon, 18. “I wanted to make a difference.”
Herrejon is well on his way as he becomes the first in his family to graduate from high school and attend college with the dream of becoming a doctor.
“For me, it’s more like just one step that I took, there are still more to go,” he said a month before Lodi High’s May 31 graduation. “It’s just one goal that I have achieved and I know I have more out there to keep progressing.”
Not only does he serve as a model and inspiration for his four younger siblings — Jayson, 9; Jayla, 7; Jaydine, 4; and Jayslee, 2 — Herrejon also has living proof in his parents that hard work and dedication in school pays off.
His parents, Armando and Angela, both came to the U.S. as children from the Mexican towns of Michoacan and Puebla, respectively. They came to San Joaquin County as a way to not only be close to family already residing in the area, but to work. Armando Herrejon works in Acampo at California Concentrate, a winemaking supply store, and Angela Herrejon is a stay-at-home mom.
Being the oldest child, Herrejon had the responsibility of leading by example.
“My dad enforces that he wants me to be the role model,” Herrejon said. “If I don’t do well in school ... and let my grades drop, he doesn’t want my younger siblings to see that. He has me as proof to push them, he definitely tells me to try my best at anything that I do.”
Even while Armando Herrejon lacked a proper education, he always helped his oldest son with homework and would try to learn along with him. Although, in the beginning, Jayvin Herrejon’s stubborness would get in the way, like when he was convinced 2 plus 2 equaled 3.
“I was so dumb, what was going through my mind?” Herrejon recalled with a cringe. “I guess I was just trying to make a point and prove them wrong even though I knew I was wrong.”
Eventually, Jayvin Herrejon finally figured out that 2 plus 2 does in fact equal 4. As he’s counting down his final days at Lodi High, he’s maintained a 3.90 GPA, earned a state Seal of Biliteracy for being proficient in two languages and tutored 9th- and 10th-graders over the past three years in reading three times a week.
During the hot summer months, Jayvin Herrejon is in constant contact with his track coach to improve and condition for shot put and discus training.
Jayvin has been a varsity letterman on the track team for two years and according to track coach Greg Wright, he played a big part in the team winning the TCAL championship the past two years.
“Jayvin has always been a team player and showed up early and left late, working hard every minute he was here on the track,” said Wright.
“I know he learned this work ethic from his parents and they are very proud of him. I know the track family is only a small part of what made Jayvin successful. But I will brag about him to future student-athletes and hold him up as an example of how you can be successful if you do your best.”
“Jayvin takes every part of his education seriously. He drives himself to achieve academic, physical and personal goals he sets for himself. Jayvin has always thrived well under pressure, although he will share that he is very mindful of managing and organizing his time and priorities to ensure that every task, project, paper and duty is taken care of well ahead of time,” said Lodi High counselor Michelle Cortez.
“The high value he places on his education, family and culture sparks his energies and enthusiasm to reach and achieve all goals.”
In filing college applications, Herrejon was accepted at University of the Pacific, California State University, Sacramento, California State University, Stanislaus and the University of California, Merced. He plans to major in biological sciences as a way to help improve people’s health.
“I wanted to do something bigger and help people,” he said. “Since I’m conscious about my health ... becoming a doctor would be appropriate.”
Like most teenagers, Herrejon is looking forward to the added sense of independence that comes with being a college student. On his journey into the medical field, he desires to land as many volunteer opportunities as he can in health care offices to further gain experience.
Similar to constantly training and conditioning his body for track, Herrejon is ready for the new challenge.
“I am proud, but (being first to graduate), it’s not a big deal,” he said. “I want to be a doctor, so I know I have a long road ahead.”