Esmeralda Rivera:
CLASS OF 1996
Gilroy High SchoolClass of 1996
Gilroy, CA
Orosi High SchoolClass of 1996
Orosi, CA
Gilroy High SchoolClass of 1995
Gilroy, CA
Gavilan Hills AcademyClass of 1992
Gilroy, CA
Kelley Elementary SchoolClass of 1990
Gilroy, CA
Esmeralda's Story
First of all...those of you trying to contact my mom, go ahead and email me and I will get it to her. She is still getting up to date with computers :-)
This is my biography:I graduated with the CHSPE Exam because the credit requirements over here were outrageous. I would not spend another day in high school just because of credit differences, especially when core academia were already addressed and passed in my grad plan. Of course I walked in the ceremony six months after I graduated with my class that I hardly knew in 1996. Thank God I met some close friends for the few months I attended Orosi High School.
After graduation I began working in retail and thought maybe management was where I should begin my studies in. A few months later I was blessed to be with child and gave birth to a beautiful boy in 1997. As my journey began with my son, through many tests and advocacy, I discovered that he was not only my angel but my angel that was affected by Autism. Autism, better described as a puzzle or a puzzle piece because back then there were no known causes, cures, tests, preventative measures and the therapy was quite new.
So now a single mom, trying at home therapy to win back my son from his regression into his own world. I attended community college and learned all I could for him and then transferred to Fresno Pacific University. My son's Autism diagnosis inspired me to enter the field of special education. I learned so much throughout my studies in the name of love (mothers love) that I was able to help my son tremendously. It was through this journey that I recognized my continuous love for the entire population of individuals facing challenges across different spectrums daily.
This took my studies to a different level. I completed my BA with emphasis in psychology, Autism Certificate, Mild/Moderate Credential, Moderate/Severe Credential, Physically and Health Impaired (PHI) Credential, Master's Degree in Special Education: Moderate/Severe & Physically and Health Impaired and am currently finishing my Early Childhood Credential. Then I may look into a doctoral program.
My first teaching assignment was serving students with severe cognitive impairments and students with severe orthopedic impairments and health issue
School
High School is a bit fuzzy for me now...it was so long ago. I know that I met some fantastic fr...Expand for more
iends that I will always remember and wish I could see more. In the 2 and 1/2 short years of high school that I experienced we made some good memories that always put smile on my face. All I know is that it went by way too fast and I would do it again in a heartbeat, but with the knowledge I have now.
College was my cup of tea!! Community college was pretty much a waste of time. Too many immature people with no goal for their life...but there were the few exceptions that actually took their life seriously. I guess I had a different outlook because I had a newborn son and my priorities were a lot different. When I transferred to a private university, which happened to be Christian, things did change. Although there were tons of kids there that had no concept of the importance of their education because mommy or daddy were paying for it...a greater majority were more focused on their studies and serious about where they were headed. These were better years for me, because for the first time in my life I actually felt like I was beginning to be a little challenged in my academics and it was exciting!!! I met a few lifelong friends there, one in particular that I know we will never lose touch. So then I graduated with my Bachelor's and continued to Graduate school. This is where I really began to feel good about my education.
College
My wonderful college experience started at Reedley College where I received the most inspiration from Sally Turpen. I then went to Fresno Pacific University where I transferred in with 70 units and completed my bachelor's degree in 16 months! That was fun!!! The teacher's that most inspired me from Pacific are Calvin Hoff who taught creative drama, Eleanor Hersey with lit for children and both my psychology teachers Paul Mavrogeorge and Phil Collier. I learned so much at Pacific but mostly from these professors because of their passion for education. I never partied during college, I got that all out of the way in High School. Besides, I figured my higher education is much more important.
Workplace
Well I sold candles for a bit and was a secratary for about a year and knew I could do way more with my life and that time was more valuable. So that is when I went back to school full force and now I teach the best students a teacher could hope for. That is my calling in life and I am happy doing it.
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