With a passion to help youth and a background that impressed on me the importance of understanding adversity in childhood development, I chose Human Development and Family Studies as my major. The most important thing that I learned in this field of study is that there is a reason for everything, and it is vital that you look at the entire person.
As a first-generation college student, and the first of my immediate siblings to go to college and graduate, studying family dynamics and development helped me understand myself, my students and their backgrounds. It opened doors to other resources to help the families that I serve.
After graduating from SPU, I immediately applied the knowledge I gained from my studies working for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound. I continued to feel God leading me to work with youth and families further in the field of education and pursued my master’s degree in teaching.
Currently, I work as a second-grade teacher in the Renton School District. Every day, I bring the sensitivity and knowledge I learned in my Human Development and Family Studies major to relate to the students I serve.
Directly impacting my students, I love that as a teacher! Each day is different, and it has been amazing to see my students grow over the course of time. I know that I am working in the field in which I have been called. Although I plan on doing more in the education field, I feel that I am in the place that God has called me to be right now.