I grew up loving two things—the Houston Astros and helping others. I inherited these passions from my family, who first taught me the crucial values of hard work and community support. I’ve seen the value of these lessons many times over in my life, and I bring them to my third grade math classroom at Jaime Davila Elementary in Houston.

Whether we’re working on my favorite lesson about geometry, celebrating student birthdays with Las Mañanitas (the birthday song) or sharing our love for the Astros, we’re creating a circle of trust that allows us all to meet our potential.

My grandparents lived in a small town in Mexico called La Labor de Valtierra. When my mother was young, the family lived on a ranch and had very little. Yet somehow they always found enough food and hospitality to share with those who needed it. 

In Salamanca, Guanajuato, my grandfather first learned to weld. It was a craft that allowed him to provide for his family. When my mother was 9, the family moved to the Houston area, and my grandfather used his skills in welding to build a successful life. He eventually taught many other family members and friends how to weld, leading them to also be able to provide for their own families.

I’ve heard that success changes people, but success really magnifies what’s already there. Successful people show their true colors. When my family gained success in the United States, they continued to share and serve their community. And they passed that value on to me. 

I grew up very close to where I now teach. My family gave me all of their support, and that allowed me to graduate from the University of Houston. Now, it’s important to me to stay in the community where I was raised, and to continue their tradition. I didn’t see myself teaching anywhere else.

I’ve wanted to become a teacher since the fourth grade. That’s when I met Mr. Perez. He showed us students that he cared about us in everything he did and in the way he taught. I loved what he stood for, and I enjoyed going to school because of teachers like him.

This was especially important because, before Mr. Perez, there was a time when I did not want to go to school. I had a teacher one year who made me feel scared and intimidated. So when I met Mr. Perez, I learned from personal experience what a difference a caring and supportive teacher can make. He became my favorite, and I knew I wanted to become just like him. 

In many ways, I went into the profession to impact those kids who remind me of myself when I was their age. I have a huge heart for children, and I am happy to be part of their trusted community now.

Though I love my job and knew I wanted to be a teacher, it has not always been easy. My first year as a teacher was incredibly hard. 

My first month in the classroom began two weeks late when Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area, leaving widespread damage and closing schools and businesses. Many students in our school were impacted. Some had damaged homes or knew people directly affected by the storm. 

Even if their families didn’t experience the worst damage, children naturally want to save the world. They were worried about the people who lost homes and family members. They were worried it would happen again. They wanted to save everyone. 

For the first few weeks, we had to talk about the storm and about their fears. We had to create circles of trust so they felt safe sharing their fears and letting adults know if they needed help.

One of my students didn’t see her dad for three days as the storm trapped him inside the bakery where he worked. He and his coworkers later made the news when they began baking loaf after loaf of bread. When they were finally able to leave the bakery, they delivered the loaves to shelters and first responders. 

This is the same community who supported me when, soon after the school year began, my grandfather died. My grandfather was my neighbor, my father-figure and my Astros loyal companion. I was truly devastated when he passed. I felt that the weight of the world was on my shoulders, and I wanted to quit. 

During this time, students brought me flowers, drew me pictures and wrote me letters. I kept the letters and drawings in a box which I open any time I need extra motivation. I keep showing up for my students, and they show up for me too.

In college when I was studying to become a teacher, I learned about  Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs.” I learned that if a student isn’t getting basic needs met, or if they don’t feel safe and secure then there’s no room for learning. 

So, even though my job is third grade math teacher, I don’t let myself off the hook for helping students thrive beyond math skills. I try to create an environment where students feel cared for every day in my classroom.

One of my favorite ways to build community is with another thing I learned in college: Las Mañanitas. I taught myself to play the birthday song on guitar during my final semester. My students love it when I play the song for them on their birthday—and I love that it pays tribute to my family’s Mexican heritage.

Las Mañanitas is about more than celebrating birthdays. It gives me the opportunity to share a part of myself with each individual student. It’s part of a larger approach that helps my math lessons stick and supports their academic and social growth.

It’s so true that it takes a village to raise a child. People sometimes make fun of the idea that teachers can change the world. But I believe that each person is a world, so I do believe you can change the world as a teacher.

If you love helping people, teaching is the perfect profession. But it has to come from within. Your students will know that you care for them. They’ll look up to you. They’ll want to wear the same clothes and have the same hobbies. (They may even become Astros superfans!) 

So, my advice to you is to find your supportive community and your circle of trust. And when the time comes, you can help create it in your classroom.

 

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