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What had inspired me to become a teacher didn’t come from a positive aspect. My sophomore year in high school, I had an English female teacher and it was her first year teaching. It all started off with a student who would miss school a lot and would struggle. A group of students which was the “popular group” of the class would make fun of that student. The teacher instead of stopping the bullying she decided to join in on it. The teacher made it seem like she wanted to fit in with the “popular group” of students. I always thought that a teacher was there to support kindness and help if needed. After seeing the way the teacher would act I would ask myself, “is she really a teacher or a student,” and because I didn’t want to get in trouble I never said anything. This situation inspired me to show that teacher and others what really being an educator is.

Mirian Alvarez

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Mrs. Moncayo was my kindergarten teacher. She was so caring and understanding. She would come to class everyday full of energy ready to teach us new things. She made sure to always make time for each one of her students. I have actually kept in touch with her over the years and her passion towards teaching hasn't changed. She creates such a positive classroom environment that I wish I could be back in her class again! She is someone who I truly admire.
-Quenia Garcia

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I was categorized as an English language learner  (ELL) and was assigned to regular classes so I struggled a lot with my English class. I remember that one of my teachers took the time to find a solution to my problem I was facing at that time. Ms. Keep approached me and asked me to go to her classroom after class. I wasn’t even taking a class with that teacher, so I was scared but curious at the same time. She told me that I wasn’t going back to that class anymore because she’d be my new English teacher. She is the one I remember the most and the one who helped me when I couldn’t even help myself. She is a kind person. Now I can tell the difference between teachers who cared and the ones who didn’t. To me, learning a second language was hard so I found out that there are so many families who struggle helping their children do their homework and communicate with teachers (one of them is my mom). I realized how hard it was to have a conversation between teachers who do not speak Spanish and parents/students who do not speak English. When I entered CI, I felt welcomed, valued and heard in Mrs. Herrera’s class. That was the first time I heard both the teacher and my classmates talk in Spanish so I thought that was the place where I belonged. From my experiences, I became passionate about being an Elementary School teacher because I want to help students who do not speak English. Therefore, I believe that being a teacher is more than credentials and intelligence. Being a teacher is showing empathy and kindness to our students, parents and colleagues to make the school/classroom and this world a better place.
~Amalia O.

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I have been fortunate to always have great teachers throughout my educational journey. They have all inspired me in different ways to continuously improve on myself and set my expectations high. However, during my senior teacher, Mrs. Avila motivated me to become a teacher after having a great experience in her classroom. Although I had known since I was a child that I wanted to become a teacher, I was even more convinced to chase my dreams after meeting her. Mrs. Avila always came into class in an energetic and positive attitude. She truly cared about my growth, inside and outside of the classroom, and encouraged me to expand my education. She made me realize how important college was for my future, and she is the reason I am at CSUCI today. I thank Mrs. Avila for helping me chose the college that was perfect for me and helping me throughout the process. I will never forget Mrs. Avila, and I hope to one day inspire my students to expand their education just as she did with me.

Jasmin Mojica

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I have been fortunate to have always had wonderful teachers. I do not recall having a bad experience with any teacher. My kindergarten experience was good. However, at the moment I was drawn into the activities and playing with friends. It was not until 1st grade the thought of "what do I want to be when I grow up?" really crossed my mind. My 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Alvarado, sparked a love for working with children in a classroom setting. I felt everyday was a new adventure, and I felt the love and joy she had for teaching her students. Also, she could do magic, or so I thought when I was little (She had a magic coloring book and magic cards).
When I was in 9th grade, I got to volunteer in her classroom. She was still the same teacher who had the same energy many years before. I knew I wanted to be like her. Someone that had stayed the same even after many years in education. Sadly, I found out she could not do magic. I found her magic book and magic cards when I was helping her clean, the illusion was gone :(

-Janet Contreras

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My fourth grade teacher inspired me and still does to this day. He was the first male teacher I ever had and as a nine year old girl, I was nervous to have him because I was worried he wouldn’t understand me. Little did I know how nervous he was too. It was his first day as a teacher! I had the worst anxiety growing up and I still am working through it today. I wanted to be able to help someone else the same way he helped me. He was my rock. I still visit him after thirteen years and it truly is surreal stepping into his classroom every time since it’s the same class that I was in. Everything looks the same. He shares my artwork every year as an example, and here is a photo of him standing with it. It warms my heart that he kept my work after all these years.

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Ms. Pourroy was my 6th-8th grade English teacher. She inspired me to become a better writer. Her program focused on different styles of writing, as well as public speaking. This made me more confident as a writer, presenter, and learner. Her classes gave me a passion for school that I had not yet experienced. I hope to instill that same passion in my students one day.
- Sarah

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Mrs. Davis was my 6th grade teacher and she made me love that grade and going to school. She made sure we learned but she was such a fun, and amazing teacher. She made sure we had a lot of activities, and would take us on avid field trips to UCLA football games. Overall she just made her classroom environment very fun and engaging.
Mrs. Reveles was one of my high school Spanish teachers and she was an amazing teacher as well. She was always there when I needed help with assignments, or with my college applications or with advice in school. She was always the teacher I could go to when I was stressed and needed to vent. The way they made sure to encourage their students and make us have fun while learning was wonderful.
- Abigail Serrano

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Probably one of the only teachers that has made an impact on me and probably other students of hers. Ms. Reynosa was my 10th grade chemistry teacher and I loved her. She was an energetic person who you can tell cared about each of her students. She would reach out and check up on you if she noticed you were struggling. She strived for student success, she wanted you to succeed. Everyday she would remind us that we were the future and tell us how we are capable of anything we put our minds to. Not only was she such a motivational teacher, but she was an awesome friend. Every year, she would hold a block party and invite her students to come join where we would have food, play games, and she would even perform in a band with other teachers at the high school. She is a very caring person and I won't ever forget her.

-Noah P.

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I was inspired to be a teacher by a great professor I had in High School. I loved how she was so passionate about being a teacher. She would advocate for her ELD students, so they could have the same opportunities as other students. She would open the doors of her classroom to talk to her if students needed to. Mrs. Reveles was a strict teacher, but she made changes in her students like no other.

-Daniela C

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Throughout my schooling, I was fortunate to have several teachers who instilled in me a love for reading. However, I struggled to thrive in the academic environments I found myself in. My grades were consistently poor, yet my teachers never seemed to take notice or question why. I lacked motivation and felt lost, wanting to fit in and do well but never receiving the support I needed. Even when I sought help from my school counselor, I felt like a burden to their day and never received the guidance I needed. My parents didn't know how to advocate for me, leaving me to struggle alone. This experience left me disillusioned with our education system. Years later, I returned to school and met Dr. Letticia Mojica, my counselor at Oxnard College. She challenged me to aim for A's, limited my course load to just two classes per semester, and held me accountable for my grades and attendance. She checked in on me frequently, and when I expressed my desire to become a teacher and an advocate for students, she believed in me and encouraged me. Dr. Mojica is the kind of example and mentor I aspire to be for other students who need guidance.
Sylvia B.

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My fifth-grade teacher is one of the first people that come to mind when I'm asked who inspired me to become a teacher. She was the first teacher that I felt seen and understood. She also helped me grow academically and it was in her class where I made the most progress. I have always been a shy student and never really participated in activities. I felt like I was going through the motions. I never cared to get to know any of my past teachers because they didn't make the effort to get to know me or create a student-teacher relationship. They wanted us to see them strictly as persons of authority and quite frankly, I feared them. However, Ms. Dinges was different she cared about making connections with us and getting to know who we were, and what our interests were. Thanks to this, I finally felt safe and that I could be myself. She made school fun for me so much so that I enjoyed going to school. It was in this class that I decided to finally have the courage to speak up and ask for help when I didn't understand what I was learning rather than pretending that I did. She was one of the first teachers I had that if I didn't understand what she was teaching us in a certain method she would reteach me in another. Thanks to this I prospered academically. Lastly, something that I will always be thankful for is that she believed in me and told me to never limit myself by what others say I can and can't do. She helped me become a reader. I hated reading because I was always put to read books that were below my grade level. This was because when I was tested, I would perform badly because I would get nervous. In fifth grade, I was reading at a 3rd-grade level, but these books were too easy for me, and I would become bored. Therefore, I hated reading. However, I noticed that reading was her favorite thing to do, and she always made time for her to read aloud to us and for us to read. I remember her reading Harry Potter the Sorcerer's Stone. I was so excited when it was time for this book and to my surprise, there was a film about this book. I loved the book so much that I asked her if she could please change my reading level so I could check out the next book at our school library. I was taking a risk asking her this and I was ready for a no. She said "Yes". I was surprised and asked her why she said "Yes", and she told me, "If you think you can read it why should I tell you that you can't read it." After this my love for reading began. Overall, I became a confident student and person in this class. I want to be a teacher like Mrs. Dinges for my students.

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My education experiences I had a few excellent teachers. One is my first-grade teacher Mrs. Narvarro, she inspired me. She welcomed every student into her classroom ever day and connected with them. Early on I recall how she made me feel special and important. As I went through school I found the relationships built by your teacher was an essential ingredient to effective teaching strategies. the ideas of building relationships is something I pursued to learn more about outside of my academic classwork. So I found being a camp counselor an important position as I was able to work with children and build relationships with them. An effective program where I work during the summers Is Funderblast. Their mission is positivity, helping their student be their nest with grounding yourself (meditation) to have healthy interactions . I have grown in my knowledge of building relationships with children and creating positive and healthy relationships.  https://www.funderblast.com
The knowledge I bring the building these relationships in the classroom to inspire future students as feeling welcomed and accepted at school.
~Annie Deuyour

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I have been blessed to have Great teachers since Kindergarten, however I never thought of becoming a teacher, until 2020. Since I was little I said I wanted to be a nurse. When my oldest son has always been a picky eater and when he entered kindergarten, I volunteered to help during lunch. I then was offered a job as a noon duty and I began working at a school. The following year I applied to be an instructional assistant, while keeping my noon duty position. That didn’t last long, because I was accepted to the Nursing Program, but I missed working with kids. While in the Nursing Program, I got pregnant with my 3rd baby, and decided to leave the program. The following year I began to work at the school again, first as an instructional assistant, then a one to one IA, and a SPED IA. What inspired me to become a teacher is working with many amazing teachers throughout the years. I would often get compliments of how great I was with the students and I remember Ms. Kelly saying, “you could be a great teacher,” and that curiosity seed was planted in me. The next year I started to think more seriously about it and I looked into the requirements, but didn’t do anything. At the beginning of 2020, I worked with a teacher that in my eyes, had no love for teaching, was often grumpy and I decided that I wanted to become a teacher for students to have more teachers that would love being in the classroom with them. I keep working at the school, and meet more amazing teachers, who gave me encouraging words to not give up, I hope to one day be as amazing as them. Ms. Valenzuela, Ms. Parian, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Forest,  Ms. Valenzuela, and many others!
-Diana Tapia

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Mr. Riley was my Junior and Senior year English academy teacher at PHS. Every morning he greeted us but if you were early you would be able to talk to him just about anything. During our senior year retreat it really got to me how much of an impact he made in my life and how I wanted to be someone like that for a student of mine. Mr. Riley would hear what I had to say and he was honestly the reason why I even gave teaching an opportunity as a career because of something he had told me once we returned from our trip. I still keep in touch here and there but he's also the reason why I want to visit Seattle. Ms. Medrano was my 8th grd social studies teacher at RJ Frank. My class was her first ever classroom and I was her first T.A. It's safe to say we developed a close bond because of that. She even showed up to my senior year dance show and my graduation. A year ago we sort of reconnected because my old professor knew her sister... A part of me wanted to teach Jr. High and eve Social Studies as my subject but I was afraid at the time since I had only had elementary children experience. However, during my time with the B&G Club and thanks to the RDV school, I realized I want to teach both elementary and Jr. High. So I might join a school that allows me to use my multiple subject to teach both like a combo class (UPCS allows this type of teaching).
-Sandra H.

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Honestly, I never thought of becoming a teacher it never crossed my mind towards my elementary, and middle school years. My mom said as a toddler I would occasionally say I wanted to be a doctor or a teacher when I grew up. As I grew up becoming a teacher left my mind, but I loved going to school. I realized I wanted to become a teacher when I was in 10th grade. I joined a teaching program called Teaching Educational Career Academy (TECA). This program involved learning about the educational field and child development. Additionally, the program allowed students to go to Elementary, middle, and high schools for field experience. I was assigned to a kindergarten classroom. The first week of fieldwork was when I realized I wanted to be an elementary teacher. I loved everything about it from supporting students academically, socially emotionally to building positive relationships with students. I wanted to support other children the same way the kindergarten teacher did in her classroom. I want to be there for my future students someday.
- Karen M.

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I have been inspired by my parents. My parents adopted me when I was a baby, but they had been teachers for 30 years before adopting. My mom always tells me she knew she wanted to adopt because she knew she would be able to take home any child that needed a home and love them with her whole heart. They both loved every child they had in their class and worked overtime to ensure their students were all happy and leaning. Although I knew since I was born I had wanted to be a teacher I was even more convinced when my dad passed away. He had taught at Harvard Westlake which is a very close community. They held the memorial service and over 1,000 people attended and almost 2,000 watched through a livestream. The entire church was full as well as rows and rows of chairs outside of the church. It was so unexpected they needed to call in people to hook up audio for the audience outside. I was able to see the huge impact my dad had made while teaching. Students and families had felt so connected to him that they were almost as heartbroken as my own family. Students would come to our house and tell us stories. Some would be of how he would go out of his way to help any student at any time of the day and others would be stories of the interesting teaching methods he used to keep everyone engaged. He changed the lives of so many people and I hope to make a quarter of the impact to my future students as he made to his students and families.
-Marissa Brink

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One of the amazing teachers that I had during my time in public school was my third grade teacher, Mrs. Stoeber. She was one of two teachers who helped me come to the realization that I wanted to become a teacher myself. I remember being in her third grade class and having so much fun in school. She made class exciting every day and helped me a lot with my school work. Then, when I was a senior in high school, I took a teacher aide class, and helped her class out all year long. Spending that year in her classroom made me realize how much I enjoyed spending my time there and how much I wanted to work with kids. After graduating high school, I spent the next two years, until covid began, volunteering in her classroom once a week. I loved working with the kids and my passion for teaching really took off then. I wanted to become a teacher like Mrs. Stoeber, someone who inspires others and strives to make a difference in someone's life.

Amber Babcock

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Personally, I did not want to become a teacher because of my own educational experiences or teachers I had in the past. Looking back, there are not many teachers that I had that were memorable or had a big impact on my life. The reason why I wanted to become a teacher is because when I was 17, I started working at the Boys and Girls Club. I instantly fell in love with my job because I was building so many relationships with the children and was able to provide a safe and positive place for them to go to after school. Throughout my journey here I noticed that many children did not have people that they could go to at home in order to support them academically and help them with their homework. My experience at that job is what led me to wanting to be a teacher because I realized that so many children do not have a support system that they can go to. By being a teacher, I will be able to have a positive impact on my students lives. I also want to make learning enjoyable for them and teach them in a way that is fun and hands on so they can be excited about learning. I want to provide a safe place for my students where they can feel like they belong, and I want them to know that they have someone that cares about them.

Kameron Navarro

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My inspiration to become a teacher didn't come from just one teacher, but from several teachers and my positive experiences I had in school growing up. My mom worked at my elementary school so I spent a lot of time at school. This led me to meet many teachers, other than just my own, and other educators on campus. I remember helping teachers set up their classrooms in the summer, or talking to the morning duty supervisor on the playground while waiting for school to start. I also loved a few of my teachers who I felt were fair, cared about me in and out of class, and provided fun experiences for the class. I also remember doing fun projects that allowed me to include my family. I am grateful that I was able to have such positive experiences and this inspired me to want to help all children have these experiences too. I want all children and their families to experience how school can be fun and inspiring.
Zoe Damianos

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Mrs. Shamblin was my second grade teacher. She had made an impact on me from the very beginning of school. Her classroom was warm and inviting, creating a safe environment for all students to succeed. Second grade was a challenging grade for me for many reasons. My mom and dad were going through a divorce, which was difficult for me to process. Mrs. Shamblin took so much time and effort, making sure that I was ok. She would constantly check in with me to ask how I was doing and let me know that she was always there to support me in anyway. Mrs. Shamblin showed so much compassion for me during that year and throughout my time in elementary school. I even went back to volunteer inside her classroom in middle and high school because I wanted to find someway to say 'thank you' for all that she had done for me. She truly is my inspiration to become an educator. Mrs. Shamblin was not only a teacher to me but someone that was always in my corner, cheering for me both academically and personally. I will always be grateful for Mrs. Shamblin.
I want to inspire my future students the way that Mrs. Shamblin inspired me. I want to be an educator who build their students up and sees their full potential. I want to be an educator who forms connections outside of school. I want every student to feel safe and supported inside my classroom.

-Karli Christenson

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Mrs. King was my dance class teacher from freshman year through senior year. When I started high school, I decided to join dance class because it looked fun and exciting. However, once I began attending the classes, I realized that I was quiet and lacked confidence. I would not speak up and usually would let others speak for me. I remember I wanted to be in all the choreography that she taught us, but when I lacked confidence, I sometimes would not make the auditions. Mrs. King would pull me aside and let me know that everything was going to be okay, and there was nothing to worry about. Dancing is supposed to be fun and freeing, not stressful and scary. Therefore, little by little I began to make friends and was not afraid to perform in front of others. I started to get good placements in the choreographies, was able to teach others choreography too, and became one of the captains of the class. Mrs. King would always remind me to smile big, and most importantly to always have fun no matter what. The confidence boost she would always give me, helped me to help any newcomer who felt the same way I did when I started. When I became a senior, Mrs. King told me that she remembered how I used to be so shy and afraid when I first joined, and that as a senior I had blossomed into a beautiful butterfly. Full of confidence, love, and strength. When I become a teacher, I want to always be there for my students, help them build confidence, and continue to remind them that anything is possible if they believe in themselves.

-Hilary Lopez

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Unfortunately, I do not have a teacher that inspired me to become an educator.  It's this very reason that motivates me to become a teacher.  I went through my educational career as an invisible student.  I don't remember an of my teachers ever asking me how I was doing, encouraging me to follow my dreams, or showing that they cared about me.  I honestly cannot remember the name of a single teacher I had throughout elementary school.  I can remember the names of a couple of my high school teachers, but not for any good reasons.  I was a straight-A student up until I reached my junior year in high school.  At which point I completely fell off and almost failed out of high school.  Even then, going from straight A's to D's and F's the following year, not one teacher or administrator talked to me to ask what was happening or how they could help me get back on track.  It's because of my bad school experience that I want to become a teacher.  In my future classroom, I want to make sure each of my students feels seen by me.  I want to get to know them, not just academically, but also personally.  I want them to know that I will support their efforts and encourage their dreams.  I want them to know that each of them matter and are important; that they belong.

I hope that I can be everything I was looking for and needed in a teacher for my future students.

-- Melina Farias

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Mrs. Varian was my 1st grade teacher in a combo class 1st/2nd grade. After a few months in her class she noticed that I was falling behind and struggling with readings/ comprehension and writing. She was very adamant that I got assessments and observations done for my benefit. My mom really didn't know what the process of these assessments were and Mrs. Varian helped her through every step. After getting these assessments done my I was diagnosed with a learning disability but my school was still not giving me adequate resources. Again my teacher had to advocate for me pushing them to get me the accommodations that I direly needed.
Without her advocation and support I wouldn't be the confident, comprehensive student that I am today. She has inspired me to be a educator because I want to be able to advocate for my students that may not have someone who can advocate for them or understand the process.

Courtney Abraham

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Ms. Verardo was my 7th-grade social studies teacher. In 6th grade, I applied to be part of the honors program for the following school year. To my surprise, I wasn't placed in honors. As someone who was always a teacher's pet and excelled in school, I was hurt by this result. Then, came Ms. Verardo. In her class, she noticed that I was one of her best students and wondered why I wasn't in her honors class. She knew I deserved better. So, she advocated for me to be placed in the honors program. Unfortunately, I was only moved into the math and english honor classes. Ms. Verardo was disappointed with this outcome, but she was glad I at least got placed in some honor courses. Even though I was still in Ms. Verardo's regular class, she invited me to participate in projects and activities from her honor classes. Ms. Verardo is the type of teacher I aspire to be. I want to be an educator that is welcoming, caring, and goes to great lengths to provide a better education for their students. Above is a photo of the junior high school I attended.

Alexandra Guzman

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Mr. Hill was my 4th grade teacher who realized that I couldn't read and took time out of his break time, almost every day, to teach me to read that year. At the end of the year, Mr. Hill presented me with a book, a real chapter book, as a gift that inspired me to become an avid reader. The book was Hurry Home, Candy. I loved the book. I went into teaching because of Mr. Hill. Like him, I wanted to inspire students to become the best they can be. Above is a recent photo of my old school
Sue