Fernando Arevalo

Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I didn't have a plan when I began working with kids. I was not doing well, but I strongly believe that God gave me an opportunity, and I took it. I started as a teaching assistant in kindergarten. In the first month, I thought I was going crazy and that I wasn't going to last, but when the principal allowed me to teach a math class, I quickly fell in love with the teacher-student relationship. I've been teaching for almost 20 years now.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

The day I was teaching physical science to my 5th-grade class a few years back. We were learning about circuits, and my students had an assignment to create their own paper circuit. At first, the majority of the class was frustrated because they couldn't get the LED light to turn on, but once a few of them managed to do so through trial and error, it became contagious. It's those moments of kindness and collaboration that make it memorable for me.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Our current science lab is old and falling apart. I would love to use the money to help our school remodel and hopefully expand our science lab. In doing so, adding sinks for each table would definitely motivate students by showing them the resources available to them. Not having the right resources and spacing is something our school lacks, and it would definitely boost our students' morale.