Elsa Flores Educational Narrative

Considering the example of my mother, in which I could see that it was always a
fighter and who despite life situations neck gave up. Since my childhood I could appreciate
the value of education and that when you struggle to achieve goals and aims, anything is
possible...
In my childhood I can remember my older sister went to school, I cried because I
wanted to go too but was enough to attend the first grade of elementary education I was
only 5 years old, and then had to wait to turn 7 years old because that was the right age to
start elementary school in El Salvador. My mother saw that excitement in me and decided
to talk to the director of the school to accept me in the first grade. I was admitted as a
listener, which meant I would not be registered in the list of students. The principal
accepted, and that was the start my great and exciting journey in education.
I remember the end of that year, many girls were promoted to the second grade. I
also learned to read and write, and also mathematics, etc., and I was promoted to the next
grade as well. My parents were thrilled to see me promoted. Because I was one of the
outstanding students, the school also gave me an award.
From that point, my student life continued in the same school. Everything was fine
until I reached the fifth grade. My fifth grade teacher assigned tasks she called "Daily
Copies". This lesson was to read a book, then transcribe it to a notebook. One day, I did
not fulfill that task, and the result was very shocking to me, I received a very cruel
punishment.
My teacher hit me with an iron ruler in my hand it hurt a lot, and I learned that I
should never miss homework. It helped, but also made me feel very afraid, unable to see

my teacher as a friend or person I felt safe with. Rather, I obeyed everything out of fear of
the consequences for disobeying.
My educational goal was to complete my elementary education. I was very excited to
continue studying, because I wanted to be a doctor. Now, these memories causes much
emotion in me. I now understand that my real vocation was always to be a teacher and not
a doctor. When I was a child, I loved playing with my brothers; I always liked to take the
lead, and I would pretend to be teaching my brothers. We had a blackboard, and I would
get chalk from school to take home and play school with all my eight siblings.
In making the transition to middle school, I remember when I was in sixth
grade. The teacher presented me a challenge: I had to learn the multiplication tables from
2 to 12. The most worrying thing was that we had to memorize them and go to the office to
say them to the principal of the school, and if we did not say them correctly, the result was
a "Fail grade. This meant that we would not go to the next grade. Very frightened by this
situation, I decided to memorize the multiplication tables, but only for fear of not being
promoted to the next grade.
Although I always had a lot of skill with numbers, in the eighth grade that I
faced another huge challenge. My math teacher entered the room, very angry, classes
telling us that mathematics was not easy and that if we put attention would not get good
grades. We did not understand some of what she was explaining, but she was angry and
was pulling her hair because she was very angry. Although the situation that presented
itself was negative, I continued to think that math was my favorite subject. I dearly loved
numbers, and did not believe in what the teacher was saying.

I started my secondary education, and I had the best teachers, but I can not
compare my elementary teachers to my high school teachers. I felt very happy and
motivated to continue to strive to achieve my goals. During this time I decided to work
hard to get good grades, in order to be very ready to go to college. At that time I thought
about studying to be a teacher. I always believed in myself and felt I had a lot of ability to
achieve my career.
I began my studies in teacher education at an Institute of Technology. I
worked tirelessly and was really very motivated and happy when I finished my first
practicum with fifth graders in elementary school. Then I continued studying. In my
country, El Salvador, to become a teacher one needs to study for three years after
graduating from high school. After my initiation, and by my senior year, I needed to
complete another practicum with middle school students. I had the idea of going back to
high school where I had studied in order to do student teaching with the same teacher who
had taught me mathematics classes. So I chose the subject of Mathematics for my practice,
I went to talk to my ex-teacher, and to my surprise she repeated the same thing that she
said when I was her student. My former teacher said that as a future teacher I should aim
to do an excellent job in my practice, but mathematics was not easy, and to consider this
carefully because working with numbers was very difficult, and if I did not do well I would
be given a grade of zero. I smiled, but was hurt because I was not treated professionally. I
told this lady, Well I will return on the day I start my practicum. That same day, though,
I went to another school where my classmates would be doing their student teaching, and
asked another teacher to give me the opportunity to work in the classroom. I was given the
opportunity, started to plan my classes, and prepared to get very good grades.

Eventually the day came to start my practice. I went early to first talk to my exteacher, Mrs. Pozo. Because she thought I came to start practice in their classroom, she
said, Elsa Marina, I have learned from your classmates that you are the best student, and
number one in mathematics in your classroom, I am very proud of you because you were
my student. I said, Thank you Mrs. Pozo, but I am only passing through here to tell you
that my practicum will not be with you. I'm really disappointed by the attitude you
displayed on the day I came in, when I was very happy and excited at the opportunity to do
my practicum with you. As a professional I think you, should not have told me what you
told me because it made me feel horrible. Thanks, but now I have another teacher who will
supervise with my professional practice, so I thank you and wish you success in your
professional life. She began to be. She hugged me and told me, with a sad look on her face,
I am sorry, but it's your decision.
All that experience served me, and I think that as professionals we must
demonstrate a friendly and honest attitude in all circumstances, act with professional
ethics, and especially think about the feelings of others.
When it was time to graduate, I was very happy because I had reached a goal which
made me feel very proud of myself. With much enthusiasm for work, soon after graduation
I found work in an elementary school where I taught children in first through third grades.
However, I felt that my teaching career had barely started. I needed to continue studying
for my degree in Science Education. Four years later I got my degree in Bachelor of
Science in education. Elated, I started to work in a middle school where I taught science
and mathematics to students in the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades.

I've always been very optimistic and have sought to achieve goals in my personal
and professional life. I worked for eleven years in El Salvador, then moved to the United
States. My goal was to first learn the English language, then revalidate my college degrees
to practice my profession in this country. The process has not been easy, but it is not
impossible. I am fighting tirelessly every day to achieve my goals.
After ten years in the United States I came across a wonderful opportunity: The
Community Paraprofessional Development Program. I decided to apply, very optimistic of
achieving a space as a participant in the program. I thank God I did that, and although this
represents a great triumph and also a challenge, I plan to continue until the end because it
is one of my greatest aspirations.
CPDP represents a triumph because it is an opportunity to gain knowledge and
experience in a culturally diverse community, then to use that knowledge when working
with students in the classroom. CPDP also represents a challenge because through my
participation in this program I am developing my English language skills, while increasing
and recalling my experiences in the educational field.
Through my participation in this program I have noticed that the content of each
class is very important because it is filling my expectations; each topic is based on the fact
that schools represent, and most important getting those learning social-emotional areas,
etc. Which are so important in every human being mainly in children? Also the cultural
diversity in this country is very important to consider. I'm sure I'm getting the tools and
knowledge needed to be successful in the workplace.
I am really happy to be participating in the Community Paraprofessional
Development Program. I am motivated because I'm not alone on this journey. First, God is

with me, and my teachers (along with the team of peers), and my family too. My kids and
my husband are always aware of every day I have to attend classes. They always ask me:
Mom, do you have classes today? I say yes or no according the dates that are scheduled.
All this makes me feel important and happy, and I believe I will achieve my dream
... I have longed to obtain my certification and work in a classroom in this country. I am
and I will be a successful paraprofessional, will work to the best of my ability, and will
especially serve and support the learning process by teaching children according to their
needs, interests and challenges and according to their cultural diversity.