Text by CARLOTA BLANCO and KIERAN ZAJAC
ernesto cruz A CAMPUS SUPERVISOR'S PAST AND PRESENT
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RNESTO CRUZ CRUISES in do some homework a little bit,” Cruz said. his golf cart around the bustling “We didn’t have much homework. And Palo Alto High School campus, then [we] played [soccer] at night in the smoothly traversing the grounds. streets. That was the best time.” At every corner, Cruz exchanges friendly However, Cruz’s adolescence was ingreetings with teachers, staff members and terrupted in 1979 by the Salvadoran Civstudents. il War, fought between the military-led “My boy!” Cruz projects across the government and left-wing militia groups. Quad, saying hello to history teacher Jus- Fearing violence and hoping for salvation, tin Cronin. Cruz was forced to say painful goodbyes “How are you?” responds Cronin, to his beloved grandmother and flee his and a short conversation ensues. Moments home to the United States. later, Cruz sees another Paly employee, reOnce in San Francisco, Cruz shared marking, “I get to meet a lot of beautiful a cramped, single-room apartment with people, like this one coming up!” his mother. He felt a responsibility to take The young Paly care of his mothalumnus, BJ Boyd, er and himself, I can’t change myself. responds lovingly, prompting him “[Ernesto is] one of And in this community, to enroll in the the greatest guys in same English class it’s OK to be different.” twice — once in the world.” Cruz can be the morning and — ERNESTO CRUZ, campus supervisor found directing parkagain in the afing in the morning, ternoon for extra monitoring the crosswalk to Town and practice — at a San Francisco community Country at lunch and hanging around the college. Quad at all hours of the school day. As “It’s funny because I used to get critcampus supervisor, Cruz ensures the well- icized in my own class because I wanted being and safety of students and staff, but to learn the language so badly,” Cruz said. this is only one aspect of his life. “Everybody was talking in Spanish in the class and I was the only one that didn’t say Far from home [any] words in Spanish.” Much of Cruz’s journey through life has revolved around soccer. Born in El Sal- Life at Paly vador, he grew up playing with friends in Cruz was working in construction the streets of his neighborhood, and later when he was hired as campus supervisor even played in the minor leagues. for Paly in 2004, later returning to his “After school, I would go practice with athletic roots and becoming the school’s my club team and then back home [and] girls varsity soccer coach. In his first years
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EARNEST ERNESTO — In having a similar mindset as his mentor, another soccer coach also from El Salvador, Cruz appreciates the opportunity to teach kids who have less experience.”It’s so sad to see a kid watching and other kids playing and they don’t have the opportunity [to play],” Cruz said. “But I prepare them ... All of a sudden they become players.” Photo: Carlota Blanco
28 NOVEMBER 2021
