PHS Spotlight Mr. Rambonga
I am thankful to have done this interview with Mr. Rambonga as I believe he has a very interesting backstory.
Growing up in a small town called Orosi, very similar to Parlier, Mr. Rambonga had to choose between manual labor and going to school. Avoiding manual labor he decided to go to school with the encouragement from his uncle and grandmother. Playing sports, enjoying everything the school offered led him into the right direction to graduate high school. Which ended in him deciding to join law enforcement as his neighborhood was very populated with police officers and deputies, his little league coach being a deputy made his choice of joining more reasonable. As he applied to join he went to college for 2 years before being accepted as a C.O. During his time in the force, he decided to go back to college to get his Bachelors and Masters degree.
While in the force, he explained that there were many different ways to have training. The path he chose was the Night Academy where he would work in the morning and train at night. 3 courses were mandatory to pass to enter, each needing 80% or higher. The last 2 being more hands on training with firearm safety and handcuff training. As Mr. Rambonga went on to pass these three courses he had to encounter some tough situations along the line. Giving me 3 ways to de-escalate any situations he said, “Number 1, stay calm. Number 2, you are in charge of the situation. And number 3, there always has to be a reasonable action for what you do.”
Whilst in the force, he enjoyed helping teach newcomers as he liked sharing information to the new age of police officers such as weapon knowledge, chemical agents, and how to report correctly. Which is what made him want to apply as a C.R.O where he would step in for absent teachers and sub. His favorite being the government class as he taught the students the legal and illegal laws of the state. Mr. Rambonga ended up coming to Parlier High in August of 2015 where he has been teaching for 9 years. He enjoys teaching the Law Enforcement pathway here at PHS as he is able to help students find themselves rather than hide behind closed doors.
Through Mr. Rambonga’s life,he always tried to live up to this quote while working in the police force: “Never, ever quit.” No matter how hard an obstacle was, he would never give up as he never gave up on his students. This is something he wishes he knew during his own high school years. If he could go back to his old self, he would say to stay in one path and finish college before going into the police force.
Mr. Rambonga has a few more years left of teaching and he said that he partakes in the C.T. E. program so he could help students find out what their true calling is in life before they leave the gates of high school after graduating.
I am really grateful to have interviewed Mr. Rambonga as he inspired me to never give up on my dreams and to never quit, even if there was a roadblock in the way. I’m hoping that this interview will bring more students into his courses so they can figure out what they were meant to be after high school.
