Nick Figueroa

I became a teacher to inspire others as I was inspired growing up. My passion for languages and cultures began early, and I wanted to share that with my community. With over 10 years of experience, I’ve guided students in mastering a new language while fostering global perspectives, career opportunities, and cultural appreciation. My goal is to inspire curiosity, perseverance, and a lifelong love of learning, helping students engage meaningfully in the world.

One of my most memorable teaching experiences occurred during my first year teaching Spanish at Princeton. A freshman student of color confided in me on the first day that she was experiencing a severe case of Imposter Syndrome. I shared that, as an educator of color, I had similar feelings, but we both deserved to be there, having worked so hard to achieve our goals. Four years later, she graduated with a degree in Spanish, and I continued to advocate for, mentor and inspire many more students.

With the $25,000 award, I would love to further invest in educational, literacy, and mentorship initiatives that help inspire and support the students in my communities. I would love to create more scholarships for underrepresented students who are pursing higher education, create innovative language and cultural programs, and help supply classrooms with additional resources and support so that they can promote more immersive and engaging learning experiences for our students and communities.