Hi, I'm Daisy, a Clinical Teaching Resident from Firebaugh.

When I was born my father gave me a sweet Southern name that paired perfectly with my brown curly hair and deep dimples, Daisy Marie. As I grew up I began to grow into my last names. Como las Flores, I adore the sun, the heat, the warmth, and the valley. Como Guerrera, I have never turned away from a challenge. Daisy Marie Flores Guerrero, my name is a mix of my families, my cultures, and my languages. I feel equally at home under the hot California sun as I do en la humedad de la costa Jalisciense. As I learn more about myself, I have been able to reflect on how my culture and religion have impacted my identity. As I began to dive into the history of my state, my pride in having family from Texas, Northern Mexico, and Jalisco only increased. I can stand outside of my home in the westside of the San Joaquin Valley, look at the coastal hills and imagine the Spanish incursion that occurred just over those. I can look to the east, see the Sierra Nevadas, and imagine how the Foothill Yokut and Miwok would have been settling into their winter villages deep in the mountains. When I look at the fields surrounding my home I imagine the braceros who cultivated this valley. Looking around my community I see the influence of these and so many other groups, and when I see my students I can see how they are creating their story, adding to the history of our valley.

Education has always been one of the most important components of my life. At 31, my expected 4 years of university education have slowly turned into 13. Combined with 13 years of primary education, I have spent nearly 84% of my life as a student, and been grateful for every minute. This time spent exploring so many different subjects has allowed me to better know and understand myself and those around me. I have been able to step back from my life and see what events have inspired or derailed me, and how I reacted in these situations. I believe that these experiences have given me a clear objective in education, teach with passion and empathy and lead by example. As a teacher I hope to use my time to prepare my students for success not only in the classroom, but within their community. As members of a culturally and linguistically diverse community, my students have the ability to cross the bridge between cultures and languages. By developing a culturally inclusive community, a classroom can be reimagined into a space where students can explore their place in history and take pride in their language and culture in every form that it comes in. I only have to look at my students, to see the delicate trenzas made by loving hands, their muddy shoes that come as part of living en un rancho, and I know that my place is here.

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