Whenever I introduce myself to someone new, especially in academic and professional settings, I typically tend to say I'm an older sister, the daughter of immigrants, and an aspiring elementary school teacher. My interests come second because I hold them close and usually wait to share those once I decipher if I'm comfortable doing so.  I'll do my best though, so you can see me wholistically to a certain degree because I am an individual outside of being a student and daughter.  To many, graduating high school and then college may not seem like a big deal but it means the world to students like me who are the first to even fully dream about it.

I'm someone who loves reading, writing, music, and spending time with my loved ones. I grew up with a vivid imagination so you can expect that led me to love stories and by defacto anything fantastical. I'm basically a nerd. I could give you a PowerPoint presentation on anything I like if given the chance. I actually do this with my brother and mom whenever we're on break from school. Scroll to the end for a list of my favorite books and films :)

Believe it or not it all started with my brother. When he was very little he had a slight speech impediment and he wasn't saying new words as much as I had. I basically became his translator while my mother tried time and time again to get referred to a speech therapist. His therapist was a lovely woman who recognized how involved I was even at such a young age. She gave me "homework" to support my brother naturally, in everyday play while she gave my mom resources and methods to help my brother improve his speech. Sure enough, he did! 

As we got older I gained an affinity for sharing everything I learned with anyone who would pay attention, and who better than the little brother who followed me around everywhere? I started a game I called "escuelita" which means little school in Spanish after an uncle gifted me one of those double-sided chalkboards with a whiteboard. I was the teacher while my brother, made up characters and stuffed animals were the students. We had a whole lore, quite dramatic at some points thanks to the influence of The Magic School Bus, The Kratt Brothers, and other shows we were obsessed with.

The game continued for several years as we moved around and at one point while playing parent-teacher conference with one of my uncles he said, "Hijita tu vas a ser maestra." (Little girl/daughter, you're going to be a teacher.) Hey Tio Adan, you were right.

Even after we moved to Mexico for a few years the game continued as a means to practice our English and at some point, I tutored one of my brother's classmates and some neighbors who were brothers. I was around twelve or thirteen at this time and it's when I began to show interest in teaching as a potential profession. I would ask my teacher how she prepared the curriculum, who decided what would be taught, what her method for grading was and why as well as the steps she took to become a teacher. 

When I moved back to the United States and started to get serious about teaching in high school, my parents, particularly my dad were hesitant. Once they saw how serious I was by doing research and enrolling in child development classes at my local CC, they were on board and have been nothing but supportive since.

I had the opportunity to volunteer at my first elementary school in a first-grade classroom through my mentor. The volunteering turned into an internship at just seventeen through a class offered by SSU and was truly the experience that confirmed this is what I wanted to do. After nearly a full school year of observing, working with students, and learning about the behind-the-scenes I knew it was my calling.

While in college pursuing this goal I've had other opportunities to work with students through two jobs. The first is an art assistant at RAD Napa, during the summer there is a program called Our Rad Wall where students in middle and high school can paint murals. It was outside the classroom sure, but I got to mentor and support them as well as see their growth summer after summer. The second was my job as a California Mini-Corps tutor where I worked with elementary and high school students to provide them extra support. You can read more on both these experiences in Classroom Involvement and Community Engagement!

So, what's next? 

I'm going to be attending the Multiple Subject Credential Program at SSU in the fall of 2024! I already received my placement for student teaching and can't wait for this next chapter.