For Elias Garcia, success has always started at home. As the son of Mexican immigrants, he grew up in a family of six where hard work and determination were everyday values.
“When I was 12 or 13, I would go to work with my dad,” Elias said. “He works at an auto body shop and has lots of tools, and I would always be playing and messing around with them.” That’s where his love for engineering really began.
It was a freshman-year course at Santa Paula High School on the principles of engineering that helped turn that childhood curiosity into a career path. Doors began to open when his counselor connected him with Dr. Ramon Flores, a Navy engineer who is also the President of the Ventura County Board of Education. Elias attended a one-week residential camp at Naval Base Ventura County and was selected for a competitive apprenticeship program at the base, set to begin after graduation.
Elias is especially interested in mechanical engineering and hopes to one day design technology for the US Navy. “I really want to design naval systems or be a repair person on the big Navy ships,” he explains.
“I have been impressed by Elias since the first day that I met him as a sophomore,” Dr. Flores recalls. “His commitment, dedication, and work ethic are unmatched. Elias will be successful in whatever path he chooses to take after high school.”
Elias is excited to continue his education as a first-generation college student. He’s been accepted to several top universities, including UC Davis and San Diego State, but his heart is set on the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, one of the most selective military colleges in the country. He secured a recommendation from Congresswoman Julia Brownley as part of the rigorous application process. “It’s really hard to get into,” he said. “You have to be a good student overall – athletically, academically and personally.” He recently found out he was accepted to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island, which will likely lead to a spot at the Academy.
Academics aren’t Elias’s only strength. He played baseball all four years of high school and helped lead his team to three consecutive league championships. He also joined the football team as a junior, despite never having watched a full game. “It was kind of exciting because that was my first time ever playing football,” he said.
While Elias is thankful for the many people who have helped him in his high school journey, he’s especially grateful for the support of his mom and dad. “They pushed me to become a better person,” he said. “If I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t have any of this.”