LAUSD/USC Cinematic Arts and Engineering Magnet

822 W. 32nd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90007
213.748.0126
kjs0182@lausd.net
April 14, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
It is my pleasure to recommend Ramon Gurrola for Ghetto Film School Los Angeles. I have
taught this talented and intelligent young man for three consecutive years in Honors English as
a sophomore, American Literature and Contemporary Composition and Advanced Placement
United States History as a junior, and currently Journalism, where he serves as Web Design and
Multimedia Chief for our online school newspaper, Technically Speaking.
Ramon is highly intellectual, and therefore, academically strong. He takes the most challenging
courses our school offers and has maintained a presence on the Honor Roll since his freshman
year. It is not a stretch to say that Ramon is one of the most naturally gifted writers I have had
the privilege to teach. He melds well-chosen vocabulary with an excellent command of the
English language to craft thoughtful and engaging compositions. I often show his writing to my
other classes as exemplary samples of fluidity of language. Ramon also contributes greatly to
class discussions by listening attentively and contributing thoughtful and alternative points of
view for students to consider. These qualities combined with his willingness to take intellectual
risks made Ramon a joy to have in Advanced Placement U.S. History. I fondly recall his
progressive reformers project. After conducting comprehensive research, he maintained
character throughout our congressional hearing role-play activity, shedding light on the
complexities of his reformer for the class and ultimately providing searing political and social
commentary on the era as a whole. It, therefore, came as no surprise when he passed the A.P.
exam.
As Web Design and Multimedia Chief in Journalism, a position that I personally sought him out
to fill, he creates, edits, and maintains web content for usability, quality, and relevance. He
provides technological tutorials to the class as needed, and he also maintains the laptops and
audiovisual equipment in the classroom to ensure that they are properly stored and serviced. As
if that were not enough, Ramon also contributes articles for the Arts and Entertainment column,
specializing in Technology, for which he is a natural fit. His timeliness, enthusiasm, and
professionalism, serve as a role model for other student journalists, and his contributions to the
team are invaluable.
Personally, Ramon is keenly perceptive and insightful. He demonstrates a discerning sense of
humor, employing sarcasm and satire with a deft hand. While methodical and logical, he is also
wildly creative. Just last year his comedic stop motion short film, Pirates of the Jamaican, was
screened at the first annual school film festival, and, as a result of his work on this time-intensive
labor of love, he was selected by DreamWorks to participate in an exclusive tour of their studios.
Having the opportunity to see the animated film process first hand and engage with like-minded
students and professionals reinforced Ramons passion for animated filmmaking. When not
honing his craft as a writer, he serves others. He has volunteered at Century Boxing Gym for the
Youth, where he tutored and mentored kids, assisted with, organized, and stowed gym
equipment, and maintained a clean workout environment. And, most recently, he volunteered at

the Florence Public Library, where he organized books, assisted in fundraising efforts, and
helped with the annual Read Across America event.
I cannot think of a more qualified student for this two-year program. Ramon is as remarkable an
individual as he is a student, and he would be an asset to any campus. Inspired by his parents,
who have sacrificed and worked multiple jobs so that he and his younger sister can have a
semblance of economic stability, he values education and realizes the positive impact it will have
on his future. He plans to capitalize on his proclivity for storytelling and major in film with an
emphasis in animation. I hope you will consider his application favorably.
Sincerely,
Kara Smith
English 10/11, A.P. U.S. History, AVID, and Journalism
LAUSD/USC CAE Magnet School