By Pam Zendt
Riverwood High School recently awarded Sandy Springs Mission student, Tristan Garcia, two top college scholarships intended for exceptionally well-rounded students. First, on Riverwood Honors Night, Tristan was one of 10 students awarded the Riverwood PTSA Scholarship. The PTSA Scholarship recipients were selected based on leadership, academics, motivation, and character as indicated in the applicant’s application and teacher recommendation. For the second award, Tristan was one of two Riverwood students awarded the Donna Adams Mahaffey Scholarship from the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber. This scholarship is awarded to applicants based on strong grades, two recommendations, and an essay detailing the student’s interest in attending college and in financial need.
As Tristan walked to the stage to receive the awards, his proud parents watched from the audience. “Oh, we are so proud,” his father, Jorge Garcia, said. “All credit goes to his Mom. She kept her eye on him. Together, we’ve worked with him, taught him to respect others, to work hard––all the good things. He knows his decisions have consequences, and we’ve been clear with him that there are outside bad things he should stay away from. At awards night, he told us beforehand that ‘maybe’ he would get an award, but when he walked up on that stage twice, we were just so grateful. He’s a good kid.”
Felix Lora, director of the Sandy Springs Mission, reminisced about Tristan recently: “Tristan is an amazing student. I remember him raising his little hands to answer questions in first grade, and for me it is a joy to see the great man he has become.”
Tristan’s counselor at Riverwood, Tameka Revere, agreed, saying: “Tristan is a great student with ambition and drive. He has diligently applied to colleges and for scholarships, balanced his classes and school activities, and has maintained a 95 average. Tristan has a bright future ahead of him.”
In addition to the two Riverwood community scholarships, Tristan has also earned the Georgia HOPE scholarship.
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The school year is winding down, yet Tristan still tutors students at the Mission after school. Recently, on a warm May afternoon in a basement classroom at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Tristan was reviewing math with Lake Forest Elementary third graders. He excused himself from the students and put the flash cards aside to answer these questions.
Please tell about your experience with the Sandy Springs Mission.
I started coming to after-school here as an elementary student at High Point. I didn’t come to the Mission that much while at Ridgeview because of sports. But I started back in high school as a tutor. I like tutoring the kids, and I need the community service hours for school. So, it is good combination for me.
Why come to the Mission to volunteer?
As a Latino student, it was important to go to High Point and mix in with all the kids there. But then at the end of the day, it was so special to climb on the Mission bus to come here. Getting extra playtime with other kids who were a lot like me was so great. Plus, when I think of the one-on-one attention and tutoring, I feel there was a comfort in it all. I like passing that on.
Did you ever get into trouble at the Mission?
Haha, no, I don’t remember it. I was quiet. I think Mr. Felix would say I was a pretty quiet kid. I followed the rules.
At Riverwood, you took AP and IB courses, maintained a 95 average and played on the varsity football team as the first-string kicker. What advice would you give another high school student who says they are too busy to volunteer?
I know how you can feel deprived of time and tired after school, like you just want to sleep. But, when I get to the Mission, I always get a burst of energy from the kids, and I’m wide awake. Last year, I walked over here to the church from Riverwood’s campus to meet up with the little kids. It’s been great to work with the other adults and volunteers here, and I’ve gained leadership skills.
Tell us about your family.
I’m an only child and my parents immigrated from Mexico City (my mom), and from the Veracruz area (my dad). Mom is a stay-at-home mother and Dad works as the inventory manager of a French restaurant. Dad would like me to work there this summer, but since I’m starting college this summer, I just don’t know. I did study French at Riverwood so that would help me be a waiter, I guess.
How did you come to be named Tristan?
My Mom named me Tristan after Sir Tristan who was a knight in King Arthur’s court.
What are your plans for the summer and the coming years?
I want to be an architect, so I will study architecture. I was accepted into a KSU/Georgia Tech program that stipulates that after I successfully complete a year of freshman level coursework at KSU, I am automatically accepted into Tech at the beginning of my sophomore year. So, I plan to do that. I’m excited because I will begin my KSU classes this summer.
Tell about a time you learned a new skill.
The coach wanted me to try to be the kicker for the football team a few years ago. I didn’t know how, I could only kick a soccer ball, and I knew that private coaching lessons would not be happening, so I just watched YouTube videos and taught myself. It worked very well.
A favorite book?
I read Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi for English literature class at Riverwood. I loved it. As a child of immigrants, I am drawn to their stories and am reminded of my family. Homecoming is about people who came from Ghana. I like thinking about the whole wide world.
A favorite poem?
I like “If You Forget Me” by Pablo Neruda. I like Neruda’s approach in this poem because it almost reflects the drive I have in my academics. Even if I don’t get the results I want every time, I still have dedication to achieve my goals.
Memorable advice?
Early in a football game once, we were losing. Our coach said: “It is not where you start, it is where you finish.” It applies to sports, yes but also, I like to think it applies to the way things are in general.
What do you think Mr. Felix will have to say about you?
Oh, I guess that I was a quiet kid. I was always just sort of a “do-your-job” kid. I think he knows that the Mission played a big part in my life. Ms. Melissa too. She taught me so much when I first started tutoring the younger kids. I would not have gotten to where I am now without the Mission.
Ms. Zendt is a volunteer for the Mission and a graduate student in the Professional Writing program at Kennesaw State University.
