Hello,
I am Mr. Alvarenga a Math Teacher from North Park High School. I believe that it is human nature to make mistakes, whether it is in life or in a math problem, and those mistakes help us become better humans. Life is not as fulfilling if we don't make those mistakes and learn from them. In high school I struggled through math and I started to want to give up, until a family friend said he would help me. Through the struggle of learning math I found that math was a way of organizing thoughts and looking at patterns that come up often. The struggle I went through helped me realize that I was learning more from struggling to learn than when I knew the answers to questions. I honestly believe I wouldn't have made it through college if it wasn't for the family friend helping me see that learning wasn't what I already know but what I struggle to figure out.
I graduated from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles then went to Pasadena City College in search of what I wanted to major in. After two years, I decided to become an educator so I earned an Associates in Child Development thinking I would become an elementary school teacher. I then went to the Cal State Los Angeles where I earned a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies. Liberal Studies is a study across all disciplines which became helpful when I became a substitute teacher. I then went to University of Phoenix where I earned a credential to teach Mathematics and a Masters in Education. While working on my credential/masters I started working as a substitute teacher and fell in love with the BPUSD district, they really care for students and do all they can to make sure students feel safe and are learning.
This is my eight year teaching at North Park and have found this school to be one of the greatest experiences in my life. I have seen students grow into responsible young adults and the small class sizes help me really connect with all my classes. North Park is a special school and if you take advantage of all the opportunities offered here with an open mind you will see what I mean.