Nearly 500 fathers or father figures and their sons bonded over cars, Legos, and relationship-building exercises at the Socorro Independent School District’s 13th annual Building Ties’ Father-Son Conference on Sept. 21 at Pebble Hills High School.
Montwood High School freshman Leonardo Serrano said the conference was an excellent way to spend the day with his dad, Eduardo Serrano, who is in the military. Leonardo Serrano said that due to his father’s military service, they don’t get to spend much time together at home.
“You get to see them off and on,” Leonardo Serrano said about having a parent in the military. “And this was a really good chance to spend my day with my dad.”
The father and son spent time together learning how to change the oil in a car during a preventive vehicle maintenance workshop. It was one of two dozen life skills, physical and interactive activities and college and career readiness sessions that fathers and sons participated in throughout the day to strengthen their bonds.
"I've never done this because I've been deployed for the past few years, so I didn't know about this," Eduardo Serrano said. “Since he's going to the same high school that I went to, I was like, let's check it out."
The conference, for boys in grades 6 through 12, offers fathers or father figures and their sons the opportunity to build positive relationships, engage in various activities together, and explore the endless opportunities in Team SISD.
Interim Superintendent James P. Vasquez said the conference provided fathers and sons with a valuable learning experience. They were introduced to college opportunities and various career choices, including physical therapy, automotive technology, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Additionally, they engaged in activities such as cycling, boxing and building spinner tops out of Legos and took part in workshops focused on strengthening father-son relationships.
“There's lots of learning, lots of topics, lots of sessions that they can attend, and it's going to be a way to maybe spark that interest, create that moment,” Vaquez said. “Maybe it is something that they hear today that may inspire them to do things in that field in the future.”
The conference began with a keynote speech from Johnny Kage host of the “Morning Mash” radio show on 104.3 HIT FM.
Kage discussed how he was raised by his grandparents. His grandfather was the primary father figure in his life because his own father was unable to care for him. He emphasized the importance of fathers being a consistent presence in their sons' lives.
"Be involved in your boys' lives. They need you now more than ever," Kage said. "I applaud all you gentlemen in here right now who are invested in your sons because you want a better future for them. I mean, we all want better for our kids, right? We want it better for them than we had it, right?"
Kage’s message resonated with J. Favela, whose son is in the sixth grade at Col. John O. Ensor Middle School.
“To get some time with just him, it's really cool because we're just having conversations that we don't always get to have,” Favela said about spending time with his son at the conference. “So, I think it's really important and super fun, too, to just get to vibe out with my little boy.”
Robert Jurado, an automotive instructor at Western Technical College, was outside the school showcasing an electric car and discussing the new technology taught in the auto technology classes at the college.
A 2009 graduate from Americas High School, Jurado said participating in the conference was his way of giving back to the school district. He emphasized that it was a father’s responsibility to help their child find their way in the world.
“As a father, it is kind of your duty to make sure you guide your child to wherever it is they want to go, whether it be with us over here at Western Tech or someplace else,” Jurado said.