Student from Another Era

Of our over 2700 students at SLHS, some stand out with their unique talents and styles. One such student is Izael Garcia, a junior who draws inspiration from decades like the 1910s through the 1950s. He has a strong interest in the music and fashion of that era—so much so that he dresses in suits every day and taught himself to play jazz and blues on the piano, harmonica, trombone, bass, and guitar.
“It inspires me because I liked the sound of it and wanted to try,” said Garcia.
He’s most interested in dressing according to the standards of 1920s and 1930s fashion. As unique as it is, it fits him perfectly and makes him feel the most comfortable. He likes dressing sharp and appreciates the professionalism of this style. Garcia has been dressing like this for about three years so far, with his interest starting in middle school. When asked about his style, he said,
“I’m stuck in the past.” His interest in the style stems from his fascination with jazz, blues, boogie woogie, and stride music, which were popular during that era.
Garcia’s love for music goes beyond just listening. He is also a talented, self-taught musician. He plays guitar, piano, harmonica, bass, and trombone. His musical journey began with harmonica, which he can do even while playing piano—his two favorite instruments. His history teacher, Mr. Riddle, said that in the span of six months, Garcia taught himself to play guitar better than he could after 25 years. He is also a member of San Leandro High’s Jazz Band and performed a featured piano solo at this year’s spring rally.
Garcia has an amazing support system that encourages him to continue being himself. His parents helped him in many ways and even bought him his own guitar. His friend, Reed Dragseth, a sophomore, with whom he is very close, enjoys taking photos of him and editing them to make them look old-timey.
In spite of the support, some people judge him for dressing differently—but that doesn’t get him down.
“If anybody dresses like me, or [is on] the spectrum, don’t give up,” said Garcia. “I know it’s tough to be you, but I just wanted to tell you [to] love yourself, love who you are… because you have a beautiful gift. And it’s amazing what you do.”