U at UTA: Q&A with Yessenia Garcia
UTA Mavericks who choose to pursue degrees in education are a diverse group of students. In this new series titled "U at UTA," we feature the stories of students in the College of Education who are working toward a degree, certificate, or certification.
What is your classification?
My name is Yessenia, and I am a Senior. Class of 2023!
Name of the high school and community college you attended.
I attended the Young Women's Leadership Academy in Grand Prairie (6-12) and graduated in 2019.
Why did you choose UTA?
I chose UTA because it was very convenient for me to commute. I had also already taken a few courses at UTA during high school, and the campus is very big and has a lot of resources for its students. The courses I took in person were small in size which allowed for more one-on-one help from professors. This is something I was used to at YWLA because of the small class sizes.
Did you always know that you wanted to become a teacher?
Yes, I have always known that I want to become a teacher. I loved school so much that when I was a child, my mom would watch over my godsister and I and she'd play "school" with me when we got home from school. I would assign her make-believe homework and grade it. It was great! The majority of my cousins, aunts, and uncles work as educators, and I have always admired them for it. Many of the teachers I've had in the past have served as wonderful role models for me because they are passionate about what they do, and I want my students to see that in me.
You're one of many UTA students who went through our dual-credit, Teacher Academy when you were in high school. What about that time helped solidify your decision to become a teacher?
I joined the dual-credit Teacher Academy while attending the Young Women's Leadership Academy. Going through the program boosted my passion for teaching. I was given the opportunity to observe real classrooms and decide if this was the career for me, which I had known it was all along. Transportation to and from UTA was provided by the program and course textbooks were provided as well. I also graduated high school with 24 dual-credit hours!
You are currently the president of BESO, which stands for Bilingual Education Student Organization. Why was it important for you to get involved on campus? Do any memories stand out from your time in BESO?
I am currently the president of BESO which is something that was unexpected, but I am glad to represent the Bilingual Education Student Organization here at UTA. Getting involved on campus was important to me because I realized that in the years prior to my senior year, I hardly came to school for anything other than to come to class. It felt like I was missing out on so much UTA offers.
Favorite BESO memory?
My favorite BESO memory would have to be the Homecoming 5k we ran together. We witnessed Dr. Luis Rosado (professor of bilingual education and faculty advisor for BESO) win second place for his wave as well as another one of our members!! That was very exciting!
What are some of your hopes/goals after graduating from UTA?
A few hopes/goals I have set for myself after graduating from UTA are to complete all of my certification exams if I haven't already. I also hope to one day go back to school to get my master's in educational leadership to someday become a principal.
Advice to future Mavericks who are planning to become teachers, too?
Look into the College of Education to know which program is best suited for them. I would also advise to get involved with organizations at UTA or around the community and school districts to network with new people who share similar interests.
P.S.
I have also included some photos from Oozeball! You don't have to use them, but I wanted to show other UTA events as well. Although we did not play as an organization, Nancy (middle) and Perla (right), who is our BESO secretary, are both current members of BESO.
Responses have been lighted edited.