Learning Philosophy
Inspire those whose leadership has not been flourished yet due to a lack of leadership representation. Lead them in a way that the students of color who believe they don't have a voice or are capable of much can know they're powerful, wise, and have endless leadership capabilities despite being in a country that has tried to keep them submerged. Lead them so they can be that representation for their community and those future students of color learning.
As an educator and changemaker, I have to inspire those I teach that they are capable of becoming great leaders. That they have the power to change the world alongside each other. I've seen failed leadership within the educational system, as I was once one of those brown students that was neglected. The educational system or any system in this country was meant for me to fail, as I am Latina. It was designed for white people to succeed. Growing up in this country despite being born here, I felt excluded. I had little leadership to look up to all through the K-12 system. Out of all the teachers I had, two of them were Latinx...TWO! With that lack of representation in front of the classroom, how could I believe there were possibilities of leadership out there. If my leaders didn't look like me, didn't connect to my experiences/background, and didn't provide me with the correct resources or help I needed as I was a first-generation student.
Going into college I had no idea who I was or what I needed to do. The only things I knew were that I was passionate about becoming an advocate for my Latinx community, I wanted to be an educator, and I wanted to make something out of my life despite the lack of support I had. So I decided I would go find the mentors I needed to help guide me. Just like many other things Latinx people have to go find the resources they need because they won't be provided for us. Luckily I met my incredible mentors Olga Cordero and Karen Moreno. Who's journey was powerful and despite the odds as well, became incredible activists and members of the community both having city/district jobs. They lent me a hand and told me that "Latina women have to be the ones who have the strength to make it. No one is going to do that for us, but us. So take every opportunity you have and represent."
That was three-four years ago, but this story has built my leadership philosophy of perseverance, strength, and guidance. I vowed to myself to learn everything I could possibly learn about leadership and put myself out there for every opportunity that came my way. I've made a name for myself within the Longmont, Boulder, and Lafayette community and I won't stop there. Why? Because I need to be that represented for those other students of color in the classroom who've gone through a similar story just as I have. I need to demonstrate to my community that "si se puede." And to any POC I encounter that I can be that guide that Olga and Karen were for me. I can be their leader so that one day they will be that leader for somebody else and we will become powerful.
"They tried to bury us, but didn't know we were seeds"
