Through being an older sister and friend, I’ve come to discover a true passion for teaching others. Because of my enthusiasm for helping others, peers have readily sought me for aid, maintaining that my feedback proves to be constructive and provides them with not only answers but different approaches to tackling a problem. In working with children my motivation for teaching has been strengthened after seeing the positive impact I have been on their academic and social lives.



Through positions I’ve held, I have been fortunate to work with children from different socioeconomic groups, cultures, and ethnicities. As a Color Guard Director for the Sweetwater Union High School District, I taught groups of students in both middle school and in a low-income high school. The cultural diversity of students was also apparent in the Chula Vista elementary schools where, as an After-School Program Leader, I planned and effectuated activities for groups of up to 50 students in the first through sixth grades on a daily basis. And as an AVID Tutor with the San Ysidro School District, assisting children of divergent ethnic heritages provided me with insight regarding the effects of culture on the learning process.



Though some children were autistic, had physical disabilities, or had been diagnosed with ADHD, I empowered them by implementing adaptations for every activity, which allowed for their full involvement. A simple example is how I was able to include a wheelchair-bound child into game of tag by creating a role for individuals on both teams where they had to tag other children with a foam “pool noodle.” By incorporating such adaptations, my special needs students were accepted by their peers and had an emotionally safe environment where they actively participated and shared their ideas. At the same time, my other students learned about including everyone and even volunteered their own ideas to create an inclusive environment.



​Even as I’m now completing my credential program, I continue to attended workshops and seminars which give me ideas for fun and engaging lessons, developing classroom management skills, and a better understanding of different pedagogical practices because I am dedicated not to just becoming a teacher but to being a great teacher for my students. These workshops and seminars have provided me the opportunity to reflect upon my strengths and areas in need of improvement.



Having formally studied programming and computer applications, I am able to teach the use of computers while effectively using technology in the classroom to maximize learning. Being a small business owner and skilled in creating well-organized and navigable websites, my reach as a teacher can go beyond classroom walls and into the homes of the students and parents. As an adept piano and recorder player proficient in reading musical scores, I can engage students and enrich their environment by utilizing music in the classroom. And with my enthusiasm for surfing and fitness, I impart healthy habits so that students can live an active lifestyle which allows them to thrive. 



Through hard work, dedication, love, and a desire to learn, I have been fortunate to travel to 35 U.S. states and to places as far away as Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Because of this affinity for language and culture, I endeavor to open minds and expand critical thinking skills by teaching differing world views. My students will gain from unique perspectives which will be reflected in my future classroom through adornments of pictures, artifacts, and mementos of the unique places I’ve been to inspire and induce the development of respect for all conditions, perspectives, and plights of humanity. The time and effort I have invested into San Diego State's credential program has helped me better understand how to accomplish these goals for all whom I teach.