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Marietta City Schools' 2020 Teacher of the Year!

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My parents are 1st generation Hispanic and struggled to acculturate in New York back in 1960's. They both barely made it out of High School because they had to work to contribute to the household. They struggled to make sure my brother and I lived in areas that had great schools. Seeing them struggle, I knew that I wanted better for my future family and be a college graduate. I worked hard in school, played on the Miami Killian Soccer team. However, I made choices that changed the trajectory of my college aspirations. Once I became a single mother at the age of 19, I had to transfer out from Florida International University to Miami-Dade Community college and work full time --> I was DEVASTATED! I continued to work hard to support myself, new family, and attend classes. I went from working as School Secretary to an Elementary Teacher, and now I am at MHS as an ESOL Instructional Specialist. I never felt or thought that had the capability to win such a prestigious award as the Marietta City Schools' 2020 Teacher of the Year! Nothing in my life had ever been handed to me, and all of a sudden, I got a brand new Honda Pilot that was leased free for 1 year and my hands printed on the Marietta City Square forever! INCREDIBLE!
- I am here to tell you... hard work, resilience, and perseverance pays off! No matter what the struggle, never give up or settle for less! Life it too short, go for it all!

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My brother and I were blessed with a dedicated, loving mother who told us that we were going to college from young. :-) My mother facilitated the college application process and figured out whatever she did not know to assist us. She was right by our side. My brother was one year ahead of me. Education was/is highly valued in our household.

The expectation was set younger and we both met it with her support and parenting skills. There was no option to drop out or not succeed and achieve. She would always have us verbally repeat after her "You are somebody and you will succeed". She would make us repeat it nightly demanding that we say it loud and proud with belief. My mother was our biggest cheerleader at every graduation ceremony, sporting event and parent/teacher conference.
I later learned that my mom was laying the groundwork and teaching us the skills for when I attended college. I did not feel like a first-generation college student even though I was. She sent care packages during finals, helped me move in and out of the dorms and attended different events I was involved in. My mother was the proudest mother at all of my graduations.
I hold the following degrees;
-Associates Degree Humanities and Social Sciences
-Bachelor's Degree Political Science
-Master's Degree School Counseling
-Specialist Degree Professional Counseling

I believe anyone can achieve as long as they put their mind to it, fight for it, and stick to it no matter what. One neat thing about my journey and many others is you will find a variety of cheerleaders (professors/college advisors/college faculty/cafeteria staff) that will be there to help/encourage you along the way. And sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader and always finish what you started.

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My sisters and I are the first in my family to finish middle school, high school and go to  college. My parents were determined to give us a better life, they moved to the United States when I was 14 so we could have better education. I learned English while attending Marietta High School and graduated in 2009.
My parents moved back to Brazil after I graduated from high school and I stayed to go to college. What was I thinking, right?
I did not start college right after high school. I had to work and save money and it took me longer than what I had anticipated. I started at Perimeter College a few years after graduating high school and I took my time- It has been a long journey.  I am DACA student who is still considered an international and does not qualify to Financial Aid. So the International Tuition is more expensive than the regular rates. My parents were also unable to help me with my crazy dream to attend college in the U.S., so time and money has been my biggest challenge.
I am currently attending Mercer University and working on my Bachelor Degree in Human Services and will be graduating in December 2022!  I would like to pursue further education and attend graduate school for Social Work.

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I don’t even think I realized it at the time but once my college journey began, my dad made sure to make me aware I was the first of our entire extended family to go to a four year school.  I remember touring various schools as a junior with him and I would always skip to the page with the cost and know that college probably wasn’t in the cards for me and that I would end up working retail or for the Braves like a lot of my family.

My senior year I applied to schools thinking as the #6 ranked student in my high school I’d get in here and there but I never anticipated getting into my dream school as well as that classic school in Athens.  In March that year, I got my letter of acceptance to Vanderbilt University.  I was blown away by the offer they bestowed upon me.  Community service had been an organic focus for my heart and for that I was recognized as one of the 11Alive Kids Who Care Awards and Vandy valued that trait in my application and offered me a full ride!!

I went that June and registered for my classes and fell more in love with Nashville than I thought possible.  I came back home to Douglasville and kept washing more cars to pay for my dorm needs.  At orientation, I definitely noticed I was one of the kids whose dads didn’t wear a white collar, drive a luxury car and whose parents weren’t lawyers and doctors.  It definitely made me feel a bit unsettled about being there if I’m being honest.  While working at that car wash that summer, I was a young teenage girl and I feel ‘in love.’ When early August came around, I told my dad I was still going to school but I wanted to stay local so I could be near the boyfriend.  I 10/10 do not recommend this version to your plan :)

I do believe all things happen for reasons sometimes unknown at the time.  I quickly applied and was accepted to the University of West Georgia and there I feel in love for real with that small town college feel, enjoyed my sorority life and became the manager at the local tanning bed, cleverly named Electric Beach :).  With the amount of AP classes I took in high school, I finished in three years (also wouldn’t recommend- stay in college as long as you can).   I went on to get two Masters Degrees at UWG I adored it so much.  I hold one in Social Studies Education and one in Educational Leadership.  I knew once I had my own little kids to raise, life would be complicated so I did all the degrees without stopping including an Administration and Supervision Specialist from another small town school, Jacksonville State.  By the age of 24, I held four college degrees!  BAM WHAT!

I’m from a small town, was educated in small towns and now I’ve been here loving all aspects of this small town community in Marietta for almost 25 years.  In two short years, I hope to see my son becomes the second member from my family with a college degree from UGA.

Life is a journey- not a destination.  Embrace the challenges and know that everyone’s plan is individualized and specially made for you.  Let me know if I can help you in any way as you write your story!

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In high school I had the grades, resume and desire to succeed.  I was actually voted “most likely to succeed,” was an “outstanding Senior” and received the Atlanta Journal cup my senior year.  All great indicators of future success, right?  However, going to college did not seem like a thing my family did.  So, I never really planned for it.  I went to an excellent high school, Brookwood High School – Go Broncos!  But there was not a college advisor or a defined next step that I thought was for me. I wished that it was just already decided for me - like from elementary you go to middle school and from middle school you go to high school.

My parents are from Cuba.  They came to the united states as young adolescents with no English.  My dad learned the language quickly and did well in school in the US.  My mom did not learn the language quickly and struggled with academics.  She was in a new country with her mother, four sisters,  little brother and without her father and her oldest brother – they stayed in Cuba for another ten years.  They got married very young, 18 and 20.  My mom went to night school to finish high school and my dad tried community college for a semester or two, but ultimately could not finish with a wife, a job and a new little baby, my older sister.

I was told I was intelligent and that I could be whatever I wanted to be, but there were so many questions my parents couldn’t answer.  Enter my childhood best friend, Laura.  Laura and I were joined at the hip.  We were study buddies who enjoyed competing for higher grades – nerd alert! Ha!  Her parents had advanced degrees and there was never a doubt that she was going to college.  She helped me with everything – filling out my two college applications, driving me to the post office to mail them in (no online in 1998), helped me with the FAFSA, bought me my first UGA t-shirt and more!  I was so lucky to have a great peer that helped me with all things college!

I chose UGA because of its amazing journalism school and it was the only school I was accepted to.  There were no first gen programs at the time; I just made friends who looked like they were in the know.  I had a wonderful college experience and then worked at UGA for nearly a decade.  I also received my Master’s degree in 2013 while working there.  I am proud to have been the first in my family, but even more proud to not be the last.

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My senior year in high school my dad sat me down and told me he couldn't pay for my college. His parents didn't finish high school until they were old. My dad was a career Air Guard member who had never been to college and my mom had never been to college either. Neither of them knew how to pay for college nor where we taught in school how to apply for scholarships or loans. The only way I knew how to get college paid for was the military or an athletic scholarship. I joined the Air Force before receiving some athletic scholarships for softball and basketball. Again, not knowing what I could or couldn't do I stayed in the military.
After serving my time in the military and getting deployed to Iraq and Kuwait, I went back home to MS and went to college. I completed 1.5 years at Hinds Community College. Then I transferred to Mississippi College, where I completed my Bachelors in Accounting and my Masters in Education.
I am the 1st in my family to go to college and have 2 degrees.

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My sister and I were the first in our family to attend college. In high school, I did not have one teacher or adult talk to me about higher education options after graduation. My mom was my driving force, since my freshman year in high school, she told me that I was going to go to college and graduate. I was motivated to go to college because I wanted to be economically independent and I knew that having a college degree could give me more opportunities. The application process for me was long! I was scared after I took my SAT because I didn’t know if I scored high enough. I applied to KSU because that was the only University/College I knew about! My professors were extremely supportive and I made connections with other students and slowly gained confidence. The first semester was the hardest, I felt like I didn’t belong because everyone else looked so put together, where I was working 2 jobs, going to school full time and I was struggling to have decent grades. My family was very supportive and my sister who was one year ahead of me encouraged me and told me to take it slow. I’m back in school again! About to graduate in December 2021 with my Master’s in School Counseling, M.Ed., degree. I'm passionate about helping students, including the after graduation part! I encourage you all to fall back on your supports (family/friends) and work hard, it’s worth it!

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I come from a loving, supportive Italian-American Family. I grew up thinking college was my next step in spite of knowing that that neither of my parents had a college degree.

My mother moved to New York from Italy when she was 17. Even though she had finished high school a couple of years prior and was taking business classes at a community college type of school in Italy, she was placed in high school for a year upon moving to the States. (This was a time when ELL classes were not a thing, so she learned English primarily from watching I Love Lucy in both Italian and English.) I am not sure that college was on her radar back then and she started work upon her high school graduation. My mother is a bright and resourceful math whiz and has held many different jobs while also earning some certificate-level training, such as the credential required to become a tax preparer with H&R Block.

My father went to college for a semester or two but did not do well. School was a struggle for him throughout life and college proved to be the same (in today’s schools, he would probably have supports to help him manage ADHD).  Upon deciding to leave college, he joined the Navy and was sent off to fight in the Vietnam War.  When his Navy tour ended, he came home and worked in various places, mostly at grocery stores, on a printing press. He would come home from hard, physical work and would tell my sister and me that we are going to college so we can have more choices than to work such physically demanding jobs.

I grew up in Marietta and went to Lassiter High School. I had plans to go to UGA to live the college life in a dorm, learning and having fun but my path changed course. I had a good GPA and decent SAT scores, but I never applied to UGA. I finished high school early and had my first child, got married and moved to North Carolina with my new family where my husband had a contact for a job.

I started college when my son was a year-old, and while I was a student of traditional college age, I did not have a traditional experience.  I applied to one college, which was close to my home, so I could commute, take my son to day care and go to a part-time job. We planned for our second baby while I was still in school so by the time I graduated, I was a mother of two and had my B.S. in Biology with Honors.

I did have help through college and with being a young parent. My grandfather left all of the grandchildren a bit of money in his will to use for college expenses only. It did not cover all of my tuition, but was helpful, and I also qualified for need-based financial. We also had family support from our parents in terms of practical things like babysitting, helping out with groceries, and baby supplies.

I LOVED school. I wanted to major in everything but decided on Biology because I loved it the most. Between my changed majors and a few semesters of a lighter class load to take care of family, it took me 5.5 years to graduate.

I worked several different jobs, had lots of life experiences, another two children and then went back to school for my Masters to become a teacher. I finished my Specialist degree last year and have been teaching for twelve years. I thought about teaching the first time around but was worried I would not do well, and I am glad I had different life experiences that give me a greater appreciation of being a teacher and perspective to know that all jobs have stress but not all jobs have the same rewards.

I did not know if my college offered supports for first-generation college students, but I did attend a small university with easy access to professors and my advisor. I worked hard and asked them questions to make the best plan for me. I was worried I would not be accepted to the school I applied to, I worked really hard in my classes because I was worried I would fall behind and limit my life choices. I also wanted to be a good example for my children to show them that working hard leads to achieving goals and additional options.

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My mother was a single parent, who always told me that I “had to” go to college. I received that message because I equated college with a better life. I wanted to be able to spend time with my future kids, something that my mom was not able to do because she worked so much and so hard to provide for us.

Getting into college wasn’t hard, but it wasn’t easy because I did not have the support at home due to lack of knowledge. My counselors and teachers guided me through the financial aid process, and I filled out the applications on my own. I ended up getting into the University of Alabama (about 3 hours from home), and I loved every second of it. I remember once

UA was the best decision that I have ever made in my life. They have programs specifically for first generation college students to help guide you through not only the processes of college, but how to navigate through your collegiate career. They offer free meals to first generation college students, mentorship programs, and even classes to ensure your academic success. I remember once that I needed a small loan to get me through the semester because I was having trouble student teaching and working enough hours to make ends meet. I was given a $3,000 scholarship. I felt included, wanted, and supported.

My biggest fear was not graduating from college, because I have parents who didn’t. Now, I am in school to get a doctoral degree (the highest degree that you can have). Please know, you’ve got this! There are people who are here to support you along the way and you will make it. Good luck!

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I am the only first-generation American and first college graduate in my immediate family. I come from a Mexican and Peruvian home. Education was a huge thing in my home and both of my parents always wanted me to pursuit a higher learning. The hardest part was not only applying but also learning all the moving parts that go along with a college education since I had no one to run to and ask questions. I applied to several schools including UGA.  I chose a school that was available through public transportation and interstates so I could drive myself to and from. My family had to become more independent as they relied on me to do many things for them. I had a lot of challenges as well since I became a teen mom and had to balance school, home and parenting. Life was hard and even though I had ton of things to overcome ,the final result was the best. I couldn't be more proud of my accomplishments and where I am now. Keep going, take the jump and no matter what you choose in life as a career, know that before you others were there too. Do not be afraid of the plunge. Take the fear and let it drive you to success. From one Marietta Alumni to future alumni, Be Somebody and do things that are special, different, and better.

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I am a proud first generation college graduate!  I am also the first in my family to earn advanced degrees.  I am the only one in my family (so far) to play NCAA athletics.  Because of my financial status, I had all of my application fees waived and since I was being recruited for athletics and academics, I applied to 11 schools and got into 10.  I never felt like I did not belong at college but knew I had to work hard to be successful and make my family proud.  I picked the State University of New York at Albany primarily because it had the three majors I was interested in (education, meteorology and criminal justice).  I also selected that university because it gave me the opportunity to play both baseball and football.  I loved being away at school because of my teammates and friends.  Many of which are still my best friends (and wife) to this day.   Without a doubt, even with school loans, college was the best experience of my life! 

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I am a proud first generation college graduate!  I am also the first in my family to earn advanced degrees.  I am the only one in my family (so far) to play NCAA athletics.  Because of my financial status, I had all of my application fees waived and since I was being recruited for athletics and academics, I applied to 11 schools and got into 10.  I never felt like I did not belong at college but knew I had to work hard to be successful and make my family proud.  I picked the State University of New York at Albany primarily because it had the three majors I was interested in (education, meteorology and criminal justice).  I also selected that university because it gave me the opportunity to play both baseball and football.  I loved being away at school because of my teammates and friends.  Many of which are still my best friends (and wife) to this day.   Without a doubt, even with school loans, college was the best experience of my life! 

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My parents and I at my college graduation. 

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I am a first generation college graduate in my family and the first person to obtain a full four-year degree. Growing up my family was very hard on me about getting the right grades and making sure I had a good education as they couldn't say the same for themselves. My parents worked very hard to get where they are now but were honest with me in that it would've been a whole lot easier starting out if they would've had degrees. We were a low-middle class family growing up, and I wasn't even sure how I was going to afford going to school in the first place which made my decision very difficult. In school, I pushed myself very hard to live up to their expectations and to get good grades, but I didn't do it just for them. I did it for myself and my future. When it came to applying for colleges, I had a very hard time. Being the first person in my family to apply to a four-year university, I didn't have anyone in my family that could give me all the answers and tell me exactly what I needed to know. I struggled with applications, financial aid, and honestly just understanding everything that there is to know about a university. Thankfully, because of my good grades in school, I did receive the Zell Miller Scholarship which significantly helped me with my decision from a financial stand point. My parents tried their best but they weren't sure what colleges were looking for or what I needed to make sure to put on my applications. I did it all on my own through researching online and asking my peers what they were doing. Even though it worked out, I definitely wish I would've asked the counselors at my school who could've helped me through this process. I only applied to Kennesaw State University because at the time, ironically, I thought I wanted to go into Nursing. I applied for early decision on August 1st and by September 1st I was accepted. Being from Gwinnett county, Kennesaw State was not a big transition but it was far enough to where I moved away from home. My first year at college was not easy. I struggled with roommate situations as well as trying to keep up with my coursework. After a rough first semester, I finally started using the resources KSU offered. I frequently visited my college advisor, to whom I am still friends with to this day, school counselors, and even leaned on my professors to get help. During this time, I also felt as though my relationship with my parents grew even more. Not being at home and going through the struggles of my first year, I leaned on them more for support and advice than I would have ever previously. Overall, I am proud to not only be college graduate but also a first generation college student. I set the precedent for my family in the future that anything is truly possible given the drive and effort you put into it.

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I'm the first in my immediate family to go to college. Neither my parents nor my older sister chose college. By the time I came around, there was a greater emphasis on the importance of a college degree, and I was a good enough student. Because of the HOPE Scholarship, affording college was a reality for my family (thank you, people addicted to playing the lottery!), so it was an early goal for me to go. However, I wasn't immediately ready to leave the house, so I attended KSU and GA State, commuting from home, instead of living on campus. It wasn't always easy. I continued to work throughout college. And navigating college finances, even with the HOPE Scholarship, could be difficult--you're really on your own to figure those things out, and I had to take more responsibility for that stuff. No one taps you on the shoulder and hands you all the forms you need to fill out! Classes are easy (if you show up), but that financial aid paperwork can really get in the way, especially when your parents have no idea how to help.

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Me after my graduation where I received my ASN.

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I'm Megan and I'm the Special Education Nurse at MHS. I've been on a college adventure throughout the years, I guess you could say. My mother and my father both only completed a high school education, but it was always the expectation that my brother and I would go to college one day. I started out at a technical college in Warner Robins, GA and spent a couple years in core classes, trying to figure out what I wanted to do, dabbling in a few things. Ultimately I got an Associate's in Accounting whilst becoming a "non-traditional" student due to becoming pregnant with my son at 20. I had always wanted to go the nursing pathway, but it was never the right time. With the encouragement of my family and my husband, I finally applied and got through a Licensed Practical Nursing diploma program. It was extremely tough, but I made it. I then went on to get my Associate's in Nursing when I was 27 and Bachelor's in Nursing when I was 29, all while raising children. I'm the only person in my entire extended family to ever make it that far. I'm now 31 and eventually want to earn my Master's as well. I've been blessed enough to work in a variety of nursing niches. It's been a long road, but every single day I am proud of myself for pushing through. I want to say to you all that it is okay to live at home during college. It's okay if struggles and hurdles come up. It's okay to be "non-traditional". It's okay if you can't make up your mind at first. You can still do it if you push through and put in the effort. If you have people in your life offering love, support, and encouragement, embrace it. If you have resources, take them (Georgia has a lot of grants and scholarships available!). It's all for you and will help you achieve success and happiness. Best of luck to you all!

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I am a first generation college student. My mother was the only parent to graduate from high school. I was an only child growing up in a low to medium income family household. By the time I was 17, I was emancipated and living on my own. I only applied to UWG, because it was close to home and I was able to receive financial aid to help me pay for school. My high school science teacher helped me apply for college, scholarships, fill out the FAFSA, and encouraged be to pursue my interest in science and education, specifically Chemistry and Secondary Education and later advanced degrees in Education and Biology. School has always been an important part of my life and I valued my educational experience. Being a first generation college student created a new culture in my own household, so when I had my own children I encouraged them to follow their passions, learn a skill, or pursue higher education. All I have ever wanted it to leave this world a little better than I came into it. I want to make a difference like my high school science teacher did for me.

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I am a first-generation college graduate as well as the first member of my family to obtain an advanced degree. These are things that I am proud of. My parents had begun college but did not complete degrees, and they were very supportive of me from an early age. I can remember my dad coming home from a blue-collar job, very tired and sore at the end of the day, and that made an impression on me to go far in my education. I was self-motivated to do well in school, and I always enjoyed school. The only older member of my family to earn a degree was my grandfather, who earned a degree in Chemistry through night school over the course of several years as an adult, as well as an aunt with an Associate's Degree in dental hygiene. I always planned on attending college, but thankfully I had an older cousin who had paved the way and helped me out with the college application process, and my High School was helpful as well. I applied to 2 colleges because I just wanted to get the process over, and ended up at Furman University. I wanted somewhere as prestigious as possible, but I doubted myself and didn't apply anywhere too big. Furman was about 2 hours from home, which was the right distance for me. Moving to college was OK, as I was ready to get out on my own and succeed. I was able to prove to myself that I was capable of making my own way and not relying on my family's money or success. I was homesick a lot at the beginning but eventually got used to being on my own. I wouldn't say I "felt" like a first-generation college student, but I did often experience feelings of being "less than" as I was on the lower end of the income scale compared to most other students at my university - that just made me work harder honestly. I was proud to be there on my merits (through scholarships) or by paying my own earned money through loans, which I am still paying off. I don't remember taking advantages of any specific resources at Furman for first-generation students. My good education at Furman was able to get me into Georgia Tech for graduate school, where I earned a PhD in chemistry 5 years later, the first in my family to ever do so. From my experience, you do not need a great deal of money to get where you want, but you do need a good work ethic and desire to be the best person you can be.