Bridging Two Worlds: How My Experience Shaped My Path as a Teacher

When I was 5 years old, I sat in a classroom surrounded by a language I did not understand.  Everyone around me spoke English.  I was the only student in the classroom who spoke Spanish.  I remember trying to become invisible so the teacher would not call on me.

Bilingual education did not exist back then, so I was immersed in English.  It was the sink or swim method.  I was definitely sinking!  I did not have a voice!

It wasn’t until the end of first grade when I began to comprehend what was being said in the classroom.  But by then, it was too late.  I had already lost a part of me.   My native language was part of my identity and I was forced to leave it behind once I entered the classroom. 

As a young girl, I had low self-esteem and very little confidence.  I was not very interested in school and I never considered myself to be smart.  It was until my third-grade teacher, Ms. Calhoun, read books aloud to me and made them come alive, that I grew a desire to become a teacher.  I started gathering my stuffed animals as my students and then recruited neighborhood children.  I felt I could make a difference!

My passion for teaching never left after third grade.  I doubted myself many times, but my desire to make a difference in children’s lives was greater.  I did not want students to ever feel like I did…voiceless and invisible! 

In 2002, I finally became a bilingual teacher for a first-grade classroom.  After 23 years, I can still name almost every student.  I remember Ogilvia, a student from Oaxaca who spoke a slightly different Spanish dialect, was targeted by other female students.  I celebrated Ogilivia’s uniqueness and integrated her experiences into the classroom.  Ogilvia thrived and became so confident that other students craved her attention. 

It was at that moment that I realized I was in the right place and my childhood dream to become a teacher who could impact student lives had become a reality!

My passion for teaching is personal and driven by my desire to transform student lives. 

Just as I found my calling, I want to continue making a difference and be a catalyst so children everywhere can find their purpose in life!