What led you to your current position? I worked in education at KIPP Valiant in East Palo Alto/Menlo Park, CA, for five years, where our school partnered with Seneca. During that time, I was fortunate to be coached by Jacqueline Leong-Abad for about two years, both directly and indirectly. I also had the pleasure of getting to know Jonathan, which helped me become familiar with Seneca’s work and approach. In the 2023-2024 school year, I began exploring new opportunities with a vision of moving to Los Angeles. I asked Jacqueline if Seneca had any openings in Southern California. She referred me, I got an interview, and everything fell into place from there.
What inspires you to do this work? I enjoy helping kids, especially those who share a similar background with me. I can relate to the challenges of balancing school and striving to do well while dealing with external pressures. It's not easy, which is why I strive to be the supportive adult I wish I had when I was growing up.
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? An important lesson I’ve learned in this role is to practice patience and understand that meaningful change takes time. I’ve also learned to highlight and recognize my own growth.
Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. My life motto is “Keep Showing Up.” No matter what goes on, just keep showing up. As long as I do that then I give myself a chance for something great to happen but if I stop showing up then I’ll never have that chance.