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Daniel (left) and Joshua (right) in Mexico.

Daniel (left) and Joshua (right) in Mexico.

TTU K-12 Allows Texas Twins to Finish Schooling in Mexico

By Leslie Cranford, Media Relations Coordinator

June 22, 2018

Joshua and Daniel with their dad Lee.

Joshua (left) and Daniel (right) with their dad Lee (center).

When neither the public schools nor the private schools in Mexico were an option, Texas-born twins Daniel and Joshua Gonzales found TTU K-12.

The only children of Lee and Patricia Gonzales, the boys moved with their parents from their Dallas-area home to Manzanillo, Mexico, when they were 11.

“Our parents were involved with a church in our hometown and very interested in the mission work they were doing. The church needed someone to serve full-time doing missionary work in Mexico, so our parents answered the call,” said 19-year-old Joshua, who is 20 seconds younger than his brother.

Joshua and Daniel with their dad Lee.

Joshua (left) and Daniel (right) with their dad Lee (center).

Daniel explained that not being bilingual and not Mexican citizens presented problems with public schooling.

“The school system there would not allow us to receive credit because we weren't citizens, and we didn't know the language,” he said. “Also, if we had started high school there, the U.S. wouldn't have recognized the courses we took because it's a completely different curriculum.”

Daniel says that not being bilingual early on wasn't because they didn't have an opportunity to learn Spanish.

“Our mother is Mexican, and she tried to teach us for years. We didn't want to learn,” he said, rolling his eyes at himself.

Joshua volunteers at one of the local parks in Mexico.

Joshua volunteers at one of the local parks in Mexico.

Joshua volunteers at one of the local parks in Mexico.

Joshua volunteers at one of the local parks in Mexico.

Now, after spending eight years in Mexico, both young men are fluent Spanish speakers.

Joshua said their mom Patricia, a native of Acuña, Mexico, moved to the Dallas area when she was 11 and gained her U.S. citizenship. Their father, Lee. is from Plainview, Texas, near Lubbock and Texas Tech University.

The boys were enrolled in a private school for about six months, but that too, didn't work out. After several other starts and stops, then asking friends for recommendations, the Gonzales family found TTU K-12. The brothers were 14 when they enrolled and completed some eighth-grade leveling courses before starting ninth grade.

Joshua and Daniel agree they gleaned good habits and skills from taking the TTU K-12 curriculum, but they also agree it might not be for everyone.

“It isn't for everybody, but I would say if you can do it, it's very beneficial,” Joshua said. “I'd definitely recommend this program if there's a need for it. You definitely have to learn a lot of discipline.”

Joshua with Dr. James Taliaferro, superintendent; and Cari Moye, principal.

Joshua with Dr. James Taliaferro, superintendent; and Cari Moye, principal.

Joshua with Dr. James Taliaferro, superintendent; and Cari Moye, principal.

Joshua with Dr. James Taliaferro, superintendent; and Cari Moye, principal.

Daniel also says if one is responsible and can manage their own time, they'll be successful with it.

“I did have to learn to take charge of my schedule and learn time-management skills, which in retrospect, was beneficial,” Daniel said. “It paid off in making an easier transition to college. While we were doing it, it was difficult; but in the end it did pay off as far as time management. If you can learn that skill before college, it helps.”

Daniel with Dr. James Taliaferro, superintendent; and Cari Moye, principal.

Daniel with Dr. James Taliaferro, superintendent; and Cari Moye, principal.

Daniel with Dr. James Taliaferro, superintendent; and Cari Moye, principal.

Daniel with Dr. James Taliaferro, superintendent; and Cari Moye, principal.

Being TTU K-12 students in Mexico was not, however, all work and no play. They were able to travel around the country on vacations, and they both enjoy music.

Joshua enjoyed singing in high school and was involved with a singing class, where he learned different styles of vocalization.

“I actually enjoy Rancheras – extremely Mexican vocalizations, very dramatic – very high range. Spanish ballads,” he explained.

Daniel is the instrumentalist, playing guitar and keyboard. He also was in same music class with Joshua in Mexico.

“We spent time getting involved in different music groups,” Daniel said. “We learned some about photography also and used to go around town taking pictures to make album covers for our music.”

The brothers graduated TTU K-12 in June 2017. With the help of their parents, they moved back to the states in November. Lee and Patricia went back to Mexico, and the twins started their first semester in January at Texas Tech University.

They both considered other schools, but there were many benefits of coming to Texas Tech, not the least of which is the family surrounding them.

“We have lots of family in Plainview,” Joshua said. “It's only an hour from Lubbock. We have cousins currently attending Texas Tech as well, and we see them more now than when we were growing up. Grandparents, aunts and uncles are nearby.”

Both undeclared majors, Joshua is leaning toward communications. Daniel is looking seriously at a degree from the Rawls College of Business.

“Part of leaning toward business is that I'm now fluent in Spanish,” Daniel chuckled. “So being bilingual with a business degree, well, more Latin American countries are coming here to do business.”

Joshua recently started studying drums and percussion. Now he is learning about jazz, “but I can't fit drum kit in the dorm. Right now I sing more than I play.”

Daniel has started producing music, making hip-hop instrumentals in the dorm. A little-known fact is he also writes poetry, “but no one will ever read or hear about my stuff.”

Now, no matter how they spend their free time, Joshua and Daniel have the time-management skills they need to be successful students at Texas Tech University, thanks to the rigor of their TTU K-12 schooling.

“You have to go into it knowing it's challenging,” Joshua said. “At the same time, it is very rewarding in the long run, learning how to manage your time and the flexibility that comes with it.”