What led you to your current position? Prior to starting at Seneca, I was a family community specialist at Long Beach Saint Mary’s Hospital helping with unhoused individuals. I oversaw community outreach for mothers that were unhoused and had a minor under their custody. While providing these services, I noticed that it was more beneficial for their overall outcome to start with supporting these families in obtaining an education.
What inspires you to do this work? I was informed by a nurse about Seneca, and after doing intensive research, I felt called to apply and support students in continuing their education. My inspiration to do this work is believing that we all deserve to be educated and supported during that journey. My favorite quote comes from Cesar Chavez “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducated the person who has learned to read. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.” I firmly believe the future belongs to my students and my role is to make sure they spread their wings.
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? One recent highlight for me comes from a young man that has no academic support at home and the love for his younger sister has motivated him to come to school daily. He is doing his best to not fall into gang violence and inspiring his younger sibling to choose a different path. I feel proud of him for making those crucial changes and for being conscious of how his actions can affect his family at a young age. Thanks to him, I have learned to support individuals find their own journey and inspiration for wanting an education. Not all struggles come from the same tree, but all tree’s come with struggles.
Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. I personally collect books that might be at risk of becoming censored, I have about 300 books that range from Dracula to Latin American in Spanish, and psychology. I love to be able to see the little happy moments with my students and be part of their small victories.