Hello everyone, I am a lifetime resident of San Diego California. I am truly grateful to have been born and raised here in this wonderful city. I grew up in what is now known as West Chula Vista and I still have fond memories of my childhood school, home, and all the fun experiences I had growing up there. After High School, I went to Southwestern College. Southwestern College was where I really began to flourish and understand what it meant to be a dedicated and goal-oriented student. I am so grateful for all the amazing professors I had at Southwestern College who helped me grow and be the best version of myself possible because it was with their help and guidance that I was able to transfer to UC Davis for the 2016 Fall Quarter.
At UC Davis I studied and received my Bachelor’s in English in 2018–while also taking Chicano Studies courses which deepened my understanding of what it meant to be Latino and Chicano. University was a different and intimidating world and I am grateful to have persevered and made great memories in my time at UC Davis. After Graduating I returned to San Diego unsure what career path to take so I re-joined my dad and worked as a Plumbing Technician for my dad’s own Plumbing Company which he has owned and operated for over 25 years! Covid came at the end of 2019 and the next few years were understandably difficult. It was during Covid and working in plumbing that I realized that I had to give teaching a shot even though I was afraid of it not working out and I have to say that it was the best decision I made.
I pursued and became a substitute teacher from 2020-2021 which is where I grew and was introduced to what being a teacher is like and thankfully where I heard about High Tech High’s Graduate School Program and eventually earned my Teaching Credential and Masters Degree. I immediately applied and thankfully was accepted. At HTHGSE I made such great friends and built a strong community that I will forever carry with me. It was the professors, directors, and classmates who helped me learn and be the educator I am today. Thank You Cohort 5!
In the HTHGSE program, I had the great opportunity to start with Seniors at HTHCV as a student teacher with Dr. C who was my mentor teacher. Dr. C and the Seniors helped me build confidence as I got to know and support students throughout the school year. I had the great opportunity to help students apply to universities and see a glimpse of the great people they will become in the future as they turned the page to the next stage in life. During the second half of the, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Ms. Nho and her class of 8th Graders. Middle School is wild at times but I was able to see what they were truly capable of when you equip them with the skills necessary to be successful in and out of the classroom.
It was with great honor that I am now an 8th Grade Humanities Teacher at HTMCV still very much learning along the way how to best listen, and ask the right questions which motivate and inspire students to take the reins of learning in their own hands. I am so very excited for the future and grateful the the journey and the lessons I’ve learned that brought me to where I am today.