What made you decide to join the Crew at Alma?
Once I knew the true Alma values, I knew there was no other place I’d like to apply. Not everyone is made to work in the field of education, but everyone does deserve an education. With that being said, I really like the idea of education and Alma values being applied and offered to the lovely scholars we help mold into becoming better equipped to take on the world around them as they grow with us!
What do you hope to contribute to Alma?
I hope to contribute in many ways at Alma but the biggest way I’d like to contribute is to be a name and a face, scholars can remember for always being ready to listen to them, ready to hear them out and ready to help them solve any problems whether they may face, whether it’s academic or an outside of school issue occurring, I just want them to know someone is always rooting for them and will always have their back.
What teacher made a difference in your life, and how?
I was lucky enough to go to a very small high school, in an even smaller hometown. I was fortunate enough to have not 1 but 2 teachers leave an everlasting impact on my life. Senhora Frances Melo and Mr. Dennis Soares were both of my Portuguese teachers in high school. I went through quite an ordeal socially, emotionally and was bullied a lot throughout school but their classes and just them as individual educators made the bullying and harshness of others words not so bad. They always were ready to listen and offer great advice. Heck there was one time we stopped on our senior class trip and Mr. Soares made everyone laugh so hard while we waited in the longest Dunkin Donuts line for ice coffee on one of the hottest summer days of 2014. But that was the beautiful thing about both of them. When they were not being immensely resourceful, they were just being the absolute best human beings and telling me to keep going. There was even a good handful of times at minimum Senhora Melo would let me stay after school with her just to talk about my struggles. She never judged, only listened and offered the best advice, also. You know you have great teachers who will leave you with a strong passion for educating when you’re learning a completely different language and acting out and hosting a “Portuguese fashion show,” in the middle of class naming articles of clothing and commentating in only Portuguese. While I was lucky enough to have them, I know other students aren’t as fortunate as I was and I really hope their current students realize how special they truly are because I do and I’ll always cherish them both!
Why did you become involved in education?
My Portuguese teachers as mentioned above were truly the biggest blessing in my academic advancement. However with that being said, I also know what it’s like to really need that additional support and not knowing where to turn. I want to be a leader and I want to be the person to our scholars that I needed when I was younger, to make the “not so easy to handle stuff,” more manageable.
Where did you go to college or post-secondary school?
Bridgewater State University
What did you like about your college?
I had a rockstar for an academic advisor. While she was hard on me, she helped shape me into who I am today and she’s always taught me to push harder and to stride for what I truly want in life.
What is your favorite food?
Chicken Mozambique
What is your favorite book?
Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles