Saint Louis University School of Education Student
When Esme Garcia, a first-generation college student who identifies as Latina, witnessed the impactful connections her elementary school teacher made with each student, she was inspired to follow in her footsteps. Now a senior in Saint Louis University’s School of Education, she aspires to create a welcoming environment for her future students, regardless of their background.
“Every student is different, and every student is going to need something different,” Garcia said. Her primary focus when she teaches is to meet the children in her classroom where they are academically, mentally and emotionally, she added.
Hands-on Experience
Garcia’s diverse field experiences during her undergraduate studies at SLU brought her into contact with elementary-aged students in various grades and at different levels of development. When assisting children who needed additional support with reading, spelling and overall comprehension, she noticed how their persistence helped them shine as they worked through their struggles.
“I've seen students who try their best in everything they do,” Garcia said. “I've worked with students who at first don't understand something. I explain it to them and they start getting the hang of it. And then by the end of the period, they're on their own. I see them wanting to be better students and better people.”
Garcia shares her young students’ passion for knowledge and feels fortunate to be studying at a university that promotes lifelong learning and service. She’s also extremely grateful to the donors who are committed to carrying out SLU’s mission through their scholarship contributions.
Transforming the World
Without their generosity, Garcia said she doesn’t know where she would be today — perhaps at a community college or taking a gap year to work to make money for her education. When she was deciding where to earn a bachelor’s degree in education, her greatest concern was how she would be able to afford it.
“The scholarships made enjoying being in classrooms and getting this degree way less stressful, not having to think about how am I going to pay for school,” Garcia said.
Expecting to graduate in May 2025 with her bachelor’s degree, Garcia is dedicated to continuing the legacy of SLU donors by helping her students believe that they, too, can one day transform the world, perhaps as educators themselves.
“I never saw a teacher who looked like me until my high school junior year in high school Spanish class,” Garcia said. “Going into the elementary schools, I think about that.”
Struck by a quote she once saw — “Be the teacher that you needed when you were a student” — Garcia said she hopes to make connections with the youth she will be teaching. She especially wants to grant students from various races, cultures and ethnicities the chance to see that they can also earn a degree in education.
“In the future, maybe I'll have students come back to me once they're older, telling me about all the things that they've done once they have left my classroom,” she said. “That's something that I'm really looking forward to.”
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