new role same person

By Leslie Contreras

You might see him driving on the cart, waving at students. Miguel Cortez is one of the student advisors at Yerba Buena High school

A student advisor is not only someone who handles conflict he’s also someone who helps with academics, setting goals and giving guidance. 

I know that because last year I was really lost since it was my first year. Cortez guided me and helped me throughout my freshman year. Last year was definitely the hardest because I was struggling with keeping up my grades and I had no motivation to do my work.

Cortez: “When I first met you Leslie, I met you with a group of other students and I recognized that you were an individual who could maybe use some support in getting you acclimated and transition from middle school to highschool.” 

The more I got to know Cortez I learned that his role wasn’t always a student advisor, he was a P.E teacher for 13 years before becoming a student advisor.

Cortez: “ It was fun, it was great. I had a lot of good things going on for me down there in PE, had a great office working with salgado and tay and i really worked hard at being a PE teacher, even though some of the teachers don’t recognize PE as a true subject area, but I embraced it and I tried my best to serve kids that were assigned to me for that year.”

As Cortez transitioned from being a PE teacher to a student advisor he found it a little difficult to get to know the students more. When he was a teacher he felt like he connected with students more.

Cortez: “I miss getting to know the kids closely. Because you get to know the kids better through P.E, many times as a student advisor it’s been a real challenge because I don’t get to spend as much time with the students as I’d like to, especially the ones I have got to know through the advisor's position.”

Even though he misses teaching, in the end I'm glad he became a student advisor because he’s an adult who checks in on you, gives advice and is there for anyone who needs support no matter what it is.