Felicitas Gonzalez

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I decided I wanted to make a difference on a closer, face to face scale. I studied international relations and realized that through politics I was not going to be able to make a difference. I chose to teach my students Spanish and help guide them as they grow into their future careers.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I’ve been teaching for 18 years and my most memorable was the first graduation that I participated in. Seeing the smiles from my students when they saw me standing next to them in full graduation garb made all the difference. I was so proud to have been a piece of their celebration and I have been at every graduation since then… to celebrate them.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would first pay off some of my debt (of course) and then take my children on an extended trip to Mexico so that they can learn more about our Mexican roots. I have always dreamt of traveling to every single state in Mexico in order to become a more knowledgeable Spanish teacher and the bonus gift would be passing on that passion to my own children. The $25,000 would bring me closer to my goal.