By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

J.C. Esquibel, 18, is a remarkable young man with a compelling and inspirational story. 

He also has been living on his own for the past year, with one foot in the adult world and another in the world of teenagers.

Clean cut, articulate and polite – he is popular with his classmates, teammates, teachers and coaches. 

A year ago, Esquibel chose to leave his father’s home because he could not get along with his stepmother. 

“I never really changed after I moved out. I just became more responsible because I had to do so much,” Esquibel said. “I had to really control my time management. It was a tough year but I got through it.”

For the past year, Esquibel has lived with friends while supporting himself financially by working full-time as a night manager at McDonald’s near the Maine Mall. He started working at McDonald’s when he was 14.

What does a typical day in the life of Esquibel look like? Try this on for size: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. he goes to school; 2 to 4:30 p.m. he goes to track practice; and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. he works at McDonald’s.

Despite this hectic schedule, Esquibel has stayed in school, made good grades and will get his diploma when he graduates Sunday from South Portland High School.

“J.C. has always been a hardworking student. He is quiet and cooperative in the classroom and has always had a clear focus on doing well in school,” said South Portland High School Principal Jeanne Crocker. “He is a very dedicated and hard-working kid.”

Esquibel does communicate with his father, and expects both his father and his deaf aunt who lives in Saco to be at his graduation.

Esquibel said graduation was a big accomplishment for him and he was looking forward to a short break from school.

In the fall, Esquibel will go to Southern Maine Community College where he hopes to major in nursing. While he was recruited by Connecticut College and the University of New England, he decided to start his college career at SMCC to save money and because it’s close to home.

“I knew I was going to graduate. I enjoyed the time here a lot. I made a lot of cool friends and I had a really good time at South Portland,” Esquibel said.

“What sticks out for me for J.C. is he sets a goal and he pretty much always achieves it,” said Andrew Lupien, Esquibel’s math teacher and cross-country coach. 

“He works for it. He’s a good student and very intelligent. He’s a good young man,” Lupien said. “He’s going to go off to college. I think he’s going to be a great citizen and a great member of our community for many years to come.” 

Esquibel said he is not afraid of the future because this past year has taught him to be self-sufficient and independent.

“I’ve kind of lived on my own already for almost a year. I had to pay my own bills. I feel like I already started adulthood at an early age so I know what’s expected to come,” Esquibel said.

The South Portland teenager has paid off his car and will move into his own apartment in Saco after graduation.

A consistent honor roll student, Esquibel also has excelled in extracurricular activities outside the classroom.

He has served as both school and state president of the Future Business Leaders of America, played football and run cross-country.

Esquibel also has distinguished himself as one of Maine’s best indoor and outdoor schoolboy track athletes, scoring in regional and state championship track meets. He has also participated in New England and national track meets.

  “J.C. has been an outstanding citizen of South Portland and he’s a hard worker inside school and outside of school,” said South Portland Head Track Coach Dave Kahill. “And he’s had to do it with some pretty challenging circumstances. It’s an amazing thing that he’s been able to balance everything with the work, supporting himself and moving a couple of times.”

Esquibel also speaks Spanish and American Sign Language, which he learned so he could communicate with his aunt.

Rick Wright can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237 or news@inthesentry.com.