Lit Teacher 

By Jasmine Nguyen

Guadalupe Rodriguez, also known as Ms. G, is a high school teacher at Yerba Buena High School, where she teaches AVID, English 1, and AP Lit. Ms.G’s enthusiasm and passion for teaching where she matches her students’ energy, creating a welcoming and safe space for students where they feel comfortable enough to open up to her. Rodriguez is someone students can trust and turn to for support and guidance, almost like a friend.

Rodriguez started something new this year, such as AP Lit. She was really nervous at first, then she realized that students really enjoyed her teaching and the novel that she gave, which made her feel more at ease

Rodriguez: “This has been my first time teaching AP Lit, and I feel that it has gone much better than I anticipated. The students are really enjoying the novels I have chosen for us, and they seem to be really engaged, so it's been really fun having those classes.”

Rodriguez’s passion to start teaching AVID was her determination to help guide students through the college journey because, as a first-generation student herself, she struggled to navigate college.

Her parents didn't know English well enough to help her, and she didn't have the tools back then, so she believes it's a great program to help students know what they want to be and what they want to do.

Rodriguez began teaching English because her parents were immigrants with little to no knowledge of English, so she wanted to get the opportunity to give that chance to other students and teach a subject kids would enjoy and learn from, knowing she struggled in English in high school herself.

Rodriguez: “Well, my parents are immigrants and so they came to this country with no english and they only spoke spanish and so growing up i would see how a lot of times they were not able to experience certain opportunities or many doors were closed for them, simply because of the language barrier and so for that reason i knew that in the future as an a adult i wanted to somehow help them and help others in my community who maybe didnt know english, and not just that, but i myself always struggled with english in highschool although i enjoyed english classes i hated writing i hated reading and I wanted to change that for future generations.”

Growing up, Rodriguez would always look up to her sister. Rodriguez stated that her sister was her motivator and influencer growing up. Hearing how her sister talked about teaching and the joy of it got her into teaching. 

Rodriguez: “I would definitely say my older sister, in case people don't know, she's also a teacher here, and so obviously seeing her become a teacher, and the joy I would see as she would talk about her career inspired me to pursue this career as well, and it was kind of just another motivator, and so I definitely would say that she's my biggest inspiration.”

Rodriguez typically splurges on hobbies she enjoys to take her mind away from the stress that comes with balancing her full-time teaching job, along with getting her bachelor's degree and being a student herself. 

I have been a student of Ms. G’s for 3 years. From being in her class, Rodriguez is really understanding when it comes to schoolwork; she would let you have extra time even though there is a deadline. She knows how to match students' humor, so all her students talk to her like she's a friend in our age range. This shows how Rodriguez got really close to her students.

Overall, Rodriguez is always open to trying new things, such as getting her master's degree while teaching full-time, teaching a class of adult English, and trying an AP subject. Whether it would stress her out or not, she is always open to challenges, which makes her a very adventurous person in general.