Elizabeth Ramirez is back at Armijo after graduating in 2014. This time, she is a coach rather than a student. She was able to share a lot with us in a recent online interview. Her perspective might have changed, but her enthusiasm is still strong for the school and for the team.

Q: How long have you been coaching at Armijo? Where and what have you coached before? What else do you do for work?

A: I started assisting with the track team, more specifically the distance runners, last school year, so this will be my first full year helping coach Cross Country and Track. This will also be my first time coaching in general. I work for UC Davis as a policy analyst for the Academic Senate department.

Q: I understand that you are a graduate from Armijo. When did you graduate and what made you come back? Where did you go to college?

A: I graduated with the Class of 2014 and went to UC Davis where I got my Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. I have a younger sister that just started attending Armijo last year and joined the Cross Country team. I went to all of her meets and, once I was back out there, I realized I missed being in that setting. As an undergraduate student I worked as a student supervisor for my last two years of college and I realized I really enjoy helping others grow and learn. I still run on my own and I know how much of a positive impact Cross Country and the relationships I built there have been to my life and I wanted to give back to the younger generation.

Q: Were you in Track & Field, too? (I assume you ran Cross-Country.) What was your main event? Break any records?

A: I ran Cross Country all four years of high school and Track & Field from freshman to junior year. In track, I ran all of the distance events (800m, 1600m, and 3200m). I never managed to break any records but the improvements I made in the four years I was there still surprise me. When I first started out in Cross Country I struggled to run two miles in under 22 minutes, and by the time I graduated I was running three miles at an eight-minute pace.

Q: Do you have any family who attended or currently attends AHS?

A: All my siblings have attended Armijo. My older brother played soccer and graduated with the Class of 2002, my older sister ran cross country as well and graduated in 2005, and I have a younger sister who is currently a sophomore at Armijo.

Q: How do you feel about having to postpone the season? How are you working to keep the athletes at the top of their game during the Shelter-in-Place?

A: I was really excited to start working with the kids during cross country because, between Track and Cross Country, Cross Country has always not-so-secretly been my favorite. So, when the season had to be postponed, I was a little bummed out, but the excitement to get to work with the kids is still very much there. I’ve met a few from last school year’s track season and they are the sweetest kids so I can’t wait to work with them again and I’m looking forward to seeing all the brand new faces. Coach Pence and I have been trying to adjust and work with the kids to get them to keep in good condition and prepare mentally and physically for this new season. I want the kids to have a good time and meet the goals that they’ve made for themselves, especially our seniors. My hope is that once we get back to training together, the kids will get a little taste of normalcy in all the chaos that is around them.

Q: What else have you done for work?

A: Like I mentioned before, I worked as a student supervisor when I was an undergraduate at UC Davis. I supervised a staff of undergraduate students while working for the Orientation department on campus. Once I graduated college, I worked for the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory as a Customer Service Representative for a little under a year before moving to my current position at the Academic Senate.

Q: Why did you become a coach?

A: I really enjoy working with kids and seeing growth in them. It’s always great to be able to help others reach their full potential and meet goals that they might have never thought were possible.

Q: What are your hobbies? What else do you do for fun?

A: I still run during my lunches (especially since working from home has started). I also paint and draw, I enjoy reading, and baking, and I love music (loved concerts when they were still possible).

Q: What advice would you give to students considering going into coaching?

A: I would advise them to be patient and open to learning from those they are coaching. No two athletes want the same thing or take things in the same way. We as coaches are there to try to adapt to them to create an environment where they feel safe and supported.

Q: If you could change one thing about Armijo (students, facilities, staff, etc.), what would it be and why?

A: It would be great to see more diversity (race, gender, age, etc.) on campus as far as coaching goes. Part of the reason why I decided to join the coaching staff was to add a little more diversity and provide a different perspective to our student athletes.

Q: Anything else you would like to say?

I’m really excited to see how this season goes and I hope I’m able to help create a positive experience for all our athletes!