When Anthony Vasquez looks back on his high school experience, one thing stands out more than all the rest: Film. What started as just a CTE turned into the very thing that shaped his passion, his friendships, and his future.
Anthony’s favorite memories from high school came from film. As Anthony says, “I always looked for
ward to that class and seeing how I improved.” The film program became a place where he found his people. In that room, surrounded by others who shared his interests, Anthony began to grow—not just as a filmmaker, but as a person.
Anthony says that a huge part of that growth is thanks to his teacher, Mr. Babyar. “Film & TV, as well as Mr. Babyar, had the biggest impact on me,” he explains. “It’s what I now want to pursue after graduation. Babyar and the class generally grew my interest and love for cameras and movies.” Mr. Babyar didn’t just teach; he pushed Anthony to be better. He saw the potential and made sure Anthony saw it too. Mr.Babyar completely agrees as he pushes Anthony to the success that he knew he could achieve.
The film allowed Anthony to find community in the Film Club, which he describes as the most meaningful part of his extracurricular life. “Thanks to the Film Club, I met some wonderful people who I now have very close connections to,” he says. From winning “Trunk or Treat” three years in a row to showing incoming freshmen what to expect, Film Club offered more than just activities. And through FBLA, he continued to hone his craft, building skills that would help him in the real world.
Anthony’s path to success wasn’t easy. Like many students, he struggled with time management. “I was hardly ever late, but my time management with assignments and events was never good,” he admits. It’s something he continues to work on, and one piece of advice he’d give his freshman self is to get organized and not procrastinate. “Being only a year after COVID, I think that affected me with the way I organized myself,” he adds.
Despite those challenges, Anthony has come a long way since his first year. “Since freshman year, I have matured a LOT,” he reflects. “I’ve expanded my views on different things. I used to see everything as ‘whatever,’ but once I began to win competitions and saw that people expected certain things from me, I knew I needed to be that person.”
On the other hand, one of the most defining moments in his high school journey was winning a Rocky Mountain Award—a prestigious recognition in the world of student film. “Receiving the news that I was nominated was a big moment for me because only one other person had been nominated,” he says. As Anthony remembers hearing my name get called as the winner, instant chills. It was a rush of joy and tears, and I finally felt like I had made it. But I knew there was only room to improve from there.
After graduation, Anthony has a clear plan. He wants to work, save up money, and invest in equipment that will help him film for local businesses. “I want to bring film more into my community,” he says, “I love being able to see that my work helped others and made an impact.” It’s not just about creating content—it’s about using his passion to make a difference.
Looking ahead, Anthony is excited and just a little nervous. “I’m most excited to see where I can go and where I can improve in my skills,” he shares. “I love seeing my progress because it helps me know where to improve.” He dreams of making short films without restrictions and hopes to become more recognized by bigger names in the industry. But stepping into the unknown is daunting. “The thing I’m most nervous about is now I’m ‘on my own’ and have to figure out what works and what doesn’t.”
In five years, Anthony hopes to be making multiple projects for companies, and he dreams of having his short films seen and recognized by a wide audience. If his growth over the past four years is any indication, there’s no doubt he’ll get there. From a kid who once saw things as “whatever” to a passionate filmmaker with purpose, Anthony’s story is just beginning—and the best scenes are still to come.
