For Seagoville High School grad John Mosqueda (2007), life as an underdog instilled a strong work ethic and willingness to persevere through the toughest times. Today, through hard work and dedication, Mosqueda has made his way to the White House where his work impacts the lives of our nation’s top leaders.
AlumNow, The Hub feature that profiles district alumni, caught up with Mosqueda for an update on what he’s been doing.
What are you doing now?
I’m a network administrator with the White House Communications Agency/United States Army where I provide technical communications support for the President, Vice President, First Lady and staff.
Briefly list a few of your career and/or personal highlights.
- Reached staff sergeant in four years (United States Army);
- Selected to join the White House Communications Agency, an organization comprised of the top staff from each branch;
- Earned my Security+ certification;
- Earned my Certified Ethical Hacker certification;
- CISSP certification (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).
What was your favorite subject or activity/involvement in high school?
JROTC Drill Team, JROTC Color Guard, chess team, and student council were among a few of the organizations I was part of that I enjoyed. Each one provided a different challenge that helped give back to the community and build team work, while also making new friends as the years went by. It was a rewarding experience that helped shape me into the person I am today.
Who was your favorite teacher?
Mr. Jerry Cecil was phenomenal! The guy would always take time from his busy schedule to help you with any problem you had. He also raised funds to help students who didn’t have the money to buy things such as flash drives. He always showed a huge concern when it came to problems around the school and voiced his opinions to the faculty and staff to inspire change. He wasn’t just a “teacher,” he honestly cared about his students and others. His passion was second to none.
What lesson did you learn in high school or beyond that has served you well through the years?
I’ve said this time and time again—underdogs can win. I truly believe I’m the ultimate underdog from back home. I went from hitting rock bottom after high school and nearly dying to living out my dream. I’ve been around the world and back and no one has noticed. I joined the Army in 2009 and made staff sergeant in four years (which is faster than normal). I’m a network administrator working for the White House Communications Agency and I’m in the top of my career field. All of this stemmed from hard work!
What advice, if any, would you offer to high school students today?
Be different and don’t care what others think. Anyone who is normal is never remembered! If there is something you want bad enough, then somehow, someway you’ll find a way to get there. Hard work truly pays off! You just have to want it bad enough to get there. Nothing in this life is ever given that easily. There may be those who get everything handed to them, but just waiting around expecting opportunity won’t realistically happen. Go out there and get it.
College/University and degree earned:
Currently a senior at the University of Maryland University College earning a B.S. in network security.
If you are a Dallas ISD alum and would like to be considered for an AlumNow spotlight, please complete the questionnaire and submit along with a recent high-resolution headshot. We look forward to catching up with you and sharing your accomplishments.
