by Jaice Mendoza-Macias

Raymond “Ray” Duran’s biological parents split up when he was only a toddler. Not long after, Ray’s mother met her new partner and for a brief moment they lived in Charlestown, South Carolina. This experience, Ray describes, was “a culture shock” for his mother. Having grown up in Barstow, California, Ray’s mother was not at all accustomed to life in the South. They were only there for a few months before they finally returned to Southern California. Ray’s grandparents were no longer living in Barstow; they had moved to Covina, CA, and when Raymond’s parents (mother and stepfather) arrived in Southern California they moved in with Ray’s grandparents. It was during Ray’s kindergarten years that his parents (mother and step-father) bought a house in Rialto, CA. Ray’s life is one with instances of adolescent rebellion, but it’s his rebellious tendencies that have helped shape his life. His attitude towards school is equally important to help contextualize his present life mentality and work ethic.

Ray’s relationship with his biological father is practically inexistent; “my father and I don’t talk,” in part this is due to the fact that his parents split up at such an early age. As mentioned before, Ray’s life is one characterized by rebellious incidents, “In the 6th grade I had; I got into a little bit of trouble so I went to go live with my grandparents.” Ray’s parents were going through divorce “at the time and I was in the 6th grade and I didn’t know what to do, and like my life was kind of falling apart, and I didn’t know what was going on, so I just I ran away.” Ray ran away again 2 more times, one in 7th grade and the last in 8th grade. When he ran away for the third time he went and stayed with his friend’s sister –she had her own apartment- for about 20 days. During this period his mother had no idea where he was. Finally Ray returned to school one morning and school authorities took him into custody and returned him to his mother.

Regarding school, Ray’s attitude was simple; “If I didn’t like my teacher I didn’t do my work.” This mentality ultimately caused him to get average grades in high school and made it almost impossible for him to go straight to college after graduation. That’s not to say, however, that Ray was an unmotivated individual. There was a teacher in high school he really liked, a young teacher who “liked [his] work ethic.” Ray came to this teacher “with a business proposal…as a junior, so he was thoroughly impressed with that.” He wanted to open up a vintage clothing shop and so he did. After graduating from high school, Ray’s business teacher recommended him to the local CVS Pharmacy; it was there that his working life began. He was not at CVS for too long, Ray’s attitude towards work was similar to schooling, “I was getting kind of bored with it [CVS] so I applied to Beaver Medical Group, which is a small medical group here in town and they had a spot open in radiology so I was like hmmm, that sounds like something I wouldn’t mind doing so I got hired there in radiology.”

Ray was again, “bored”, he was about 24 years old and was “sick [of] being here working at Beaver doing that. So I was like ok, I’m just going to take off , I had some money saved and I had a friend living in Lomita so I was like hey I’ll come move out there and find a job.” In retrospect he realizes this wasn’t a great idea, but fortunately for him his friend worked at Anthropologie and managed to land him a temp job there. Ray’s work ethic was key, and it helped land him a permanent position. After about 6 years he returned to the Inland Empire, “basically the company went under when the economy tanked.” He continued to look for work in Los Angeles after being laid off. Ray explains he had the skills, he just didn’t have the degree, which continually held him back.

It was here that Ray began to recognize the value higher education. For most of Ray’s working life his network and work ethic had been able to provide him with work, but as he began to apply for more “skilled work” he realize he needed that piece of paper. “I understand that you have the piece of paper which basically says you can finish something,” but Ray’s work ethic could attest to his ability to complete tasks. As he reflects on his life choices, he seems to feel regret for not having taken his education seriously. Ray’s drive and work ethic, though, have landed him a steady job at “A Shop Called Quest,” as Director of Activities and Public relations. Ray is also currently working on his Associates Degree at a local community college to then work for his B.A.