Student Ambassador Spotlight: Francisco Gonzalez

Student Ambassador Spotlight

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hi, my name is Francisco Gonzalez and I’m from El Salvador.  I am a very kind person, hard working, collaborative and eager to learn from others.

How long have you been a student at the San Mateo Adult School Student?

I have been attending the San Mateo Adult School for five years.

What made you decide to participate in the Student Ambassador Program?

I decided to be a Student Ambassador because I wanted to help in facilitating new applicants of the ESL program and also to assist the San Mateo Adult School Staff .

What was the highlight?

Acquiring new knowledge and communicating in two languages.

What advice would you have for someone who is interested in becoming a Student Ambassador?

It is a great opportunity use what you have learned in the classroom and it will also open up many doors for you in the Future. It is an important step in improving your life.

What’s next for you?

Enrolling in the GED program, getting my GED and the enrolling at San Mateo College.

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Student Ambassador Spotlight: Rie

Student Ambassador Spotlight

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I'm Rie, and I've been apart of the Student Ambassador Program for three years. It's been great working with the staff at the SMART Center because they care so much about the students.

Rie
Alt Text: Smiling woman
with long dark hair
and checked shirt

How long have you been a student at the San Mateo Adult School Student?

I've been here for more than three years, and I took classes for pronunciation, computer software, conversation, reading, and professional business communication.

What made you decide to participate in the Student Ambassador Program?

I was interested in doing something more than just learning, and the program was perfect for me to get more experience in a different environment. Also, the school needed people who could help new students during ESL registration/orientation, and I was a match.

What was the highlight?

We created  an informational table for the second day of the two-day registration so that new students would be able to decide on classes they wanted to take before meeting with a counselor to register for classes. When I was in charge of the informational table, I asked the students the times of the day they were available and areas of English they wanted to improve. Then I informed them which classes would be suitable for them. Marina told me later on that day that I was very helpful in accelerating her job of counseling them because she did not have to explain what programs the school offers.

What advice would you have for someone who is interested in becoming a Student Ambassador?

I would recommend interested candidates take action to try this position, not just thinking about doing it. You may not feel confident to speak in front of people at first, but no one is good at it in the beginning. The more opportunities you have, the less stressed you will feel. This volunteer position will educate you on how to interact with people with limited English, too. There may not be a Student Ambassador who speaks a new students particular language, so you need to be creative with your verbal skills as well as nonverbal ones.

What’s next for you?

I would like to pursue a master's degree, which is my long-term goal.

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Green Team Volunteers in North Central Clean-Up and Garden Project

SMAS Green Team Participation in North Central Clean-Up and Garden Project

Yay to community, green, gardens, clean-ups, and SMAS volunteers!  On Saturday morning, January 12th, the Home Association of North Central San Mateo, sponsored a clean-up and garden planting in the North Central neighborhood.  North Central is our neighborhood.  Our school is part of this community.    

Representing the San Mateo Adult School Green Team, SMAS Morning Student Council President Shelley Cheng and her daughter Vivien, along with SMAS student Grace and her daughter Kate participated in this event.

Here is Shelley's description of the event:

Grace, Kate, Vivien, Shelley
HANCM Leader Amo and her daughter
at the Neighborhood Cleanup Day

First, we are very grateful to our school and community for building a bridge of communication that gives us the volunteer opportunity to participate in this clean up event. When we picked up the trash on the street, the pedestrians and staff said “ thank you “ enthusiastically to us. It made us feel that we could help others and gain more worthwhile. Also we felt we were more integrated into this community. At last, my daughter told me, “I identified that it was not an easy task to keep our community neat, so I should remind myself and my friends not to throw the trash on the ground.”

Thank you to Shelley, Grace, and their daughters for representing SMAS at this event and for making our neighborhood cleaner, safer, and healthier!

Read what the editor of the San Mateo Daily Journal, Jon Mays, had to say about the event.

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Kimie Sato: My Volunteer Opportunity

Kimie Sato is another San Mateo Adult School success.  Here, in her own words, is her story:

My Volunteer Opportunity

Thanks to Teacher Stephanie, I am finally able to start work as a volunteer at the San Mateo Senior Center. I work for the lunch program doing things such as table set up, arranging the food on the plates, serving dishes and more.

Last semester, I took Stephanie’s “Eat Healthy Be Active” health classes. She took us to the San Mateo Senior Center on a field trip during the class. At that time I received some information about volunteering. Actually, I was worried whether or not I was good enough to start to do that because of my lack of English skills. On the other hand, I didn’t want to miss the chance to volunteer, so I pushed myself to apply for the opportunity and I got it!

I believe that volunteering is the perfect opportunity to gain new skills and learn from the people who I meet, so I strongly recommend you to do it!

Thank you, Kimie, for sharing your story. You inspire us to succeed!

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Volunteer Rita: Integrating Into The Community

Rita with one of the Keys to Success that she designed for Adult Ed Week 2018

Many SMAS students become active volunteers - both at school and in the community.  Rita Maria Noguera Ricardi is one of these students.  Here is her story:


1. Where you are from and what are the languages you speak?

I was born in São Paulo, Brazil. I speak Portuguese. My father is Spanish, and I am also Spanish. I lived 20 years in Madrid, Spain, and I speak Spanish.

2. How long have you been a student at SMAS?  What classes are you taking now and have taken in the past?

I started studying at SMAS in February 2017. I have studied two courses with the teacher Elizabeth, one with teacher Vasyl, and two with Deep. I have also done conversation classes with David, Lili, and Glenn.

Now I'm in Low Advanced, with Jessica. I am also taking the Career Exploration course and the ESL City Government Academy program.

I think it is important to talk when commenting to teachers that I am dyslexic. All teachers have demonstrated understanding and support in my difficulty, and encourage me to continue making progress.

 

4. Tell us about your volunteering experience - what you did, how you got started, etc.

 

Note:  Rita volunteers at SMAS as a Student Ambassador and also in many places in the community.

Mid–Peninsula Boys & Girls Club.

Since June 2017 - Art Educator

Design and delivery of art workshops for children from 6 to 14.

My husband and I contacted the center.

I wanted to be able to work with children and that it be near my home.

San Mateo Public Library

Since April 2018  - Creative Workshops in Spanish for preschool (with English translation)

Design and delivery of workshops where children and their parents enjoy the creative process, develop their imaginations, and encourage their artistic expressions.

My husband and I contacted the center.

I proposed a new activity that suits the library's activities.

SMAS-SAN MATEO ADULT SCHOOL

Since January 2018 - Help new students arriving at the center, as a translator from English to Portuguese and / or Spanish.

Teacher Vasyl encouraged me to sign up and I thought it was a good idea.

KIDS & ART*

May 06, 2018 - Design and delivery of the workshop: "You are the most special person in the whole wide world".
Artist Krytzia Daboub and Art educator, Rita Noguera treated pediatric cancer families to a special treat during this workshop.

PENINSULA MUSEUM OF ART*

March 25, 2018 - Design and delivery of the workshop: “Jugar con Arte”, with families. "The memory of water." Bilingual workshop: Spanish and English. Run by Rita Noguera and Krytzia Dabdoub.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS – MENLO PARK*

May-June, 2017 - Accompany and support pre-school classes with children and parents.

* The contact for these three volunteer activities were thanks to my friend Krytzia.

7.  What are your favorite parts of volunteering?

I like learning new things and sharing my knowledge. It is a very enriching information exchange.

I have searched for these volunteer jobs, because I am an art teacher, with more than 27 years of experience in art workshops with children and adults. I have worked in Brazil, Spain, and now in the United States.

Being a Student Ambassador was something new, because I had never done a job as a translator. It is very rewarding. I recently arrived at the Adult School not knowing very well what was going to happen. When I noticed that there was a Student Ambassador, I felt more confident, knowing that the school only wants to help us, that we are fortunate to be able to take advantage of this opportunity. In general, they believe me and breathe relieved, and giving a smile.

I like helping people. It is good to do volunteer work in something that you like. You may not have any experience in the volunteer work you intend to do, and you may or may not like it. If you do not like it, you will know that this is not for you and you can find another activity.

8.  What is your advice for SMAS students who are thinking about volunteering?

 

I recommend everyone who has time and availability to do some volunteer work.

It is the possibility to know more about the community in which we are living, to share knowledge, and to practice English. To anyone who wants to do volunteer work, I recommend that you look for something related to what you like, or something done before living here. By doing something that you like you can make connections with what you already know and bring new perspectives. Surely there will be many people willing to help you in the search of an appropriate volunteer service. Sometimes I could find it hard to know where to start. You may be afraid or ashamed, but I encourage you to overcome these normal barriers of adaptation. For me, volunteer work is a very good way to integrate and be known in the community.

I thank all the people who have made it possible for me to carry out and continue to carry out this volunteer work.

 

 

Thank you, Rita, for sharing your story.  You inspire us to take risks, share of our talents, and be generous with time, talent, and skills.

Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club.

Hanging ornament workshop and drawing. April 04, 2018.

Workshop "Creating with squares". August 01, 2018.

Workshop “Autumn”. November 2018

SAN MATEO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Workshop “Circles”. June, 2018

Workshop “Colors”. May 2018

KIDS & ART

PENINSULA MUSEUM OF ART

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Marina Kravtsova: A SMAS Student to SMAS Staff Success Story

 Adult Ed Works!  A Student to SMAS Staff Success Story

 

 

 



Marina at her desk in the SMART Center

Did you know that several SMAS staff members are former SMAS students?  How did they go from student to staff?  Teacher Cynthia sat down with one of these success stories, Marina Kravtsova, to find out.  You might know Marina - she is our English Learner Specialist. Last year she was also our Student Council Advisor.  As part of her work, she helps coordinate the Student Ambassador program and works with Patty and Cynthia to provide students with information about resources.  Monday through Friday, you can find her at her desk in the SMART Center. 

 

When did you start attending SMAS as a student?

In August, 2011

What level of ESL did you start at and what level did you finish at?

Low Beginning to High Advanced.

What other classes did you take besides ESL classes?
Writing Intensive, Afternoon Listening Speaking, Finding Job, Gardening Club, Pronunciation, Distance Learning, and Student Council.

Student Leaders
Hitomi, Marco, and Marina
explaining Red for Adult Ed
and Red T-shirts Campaign to Students

Marina is shy to mention so Teacher Cynthia will tell you that Marina was very active as an advocate for our school and all Adult Schools during a difficult time for Adult Education.  She worked hard with other student advocates to carry the message that Adult Education Matters.  You can see some of her advocacy here, here, here, here, and here.  Also, she was the first Adult School student to ever be part of state planning for Adult Education.  She was part of the Workgroup that helped plan for the new system for Adult Education.  In addition to all this, she started a Parent Club for students that ran for several years on Fridays at lunchtime. 

How long did you study at SMAS?
Around 4 years.

What was your goal in the beginning?
Be able to speak with parents and teachers in my sons' schools

What was your goal at end?
To get a job.

What is your job at SMAS?
English Learner Specialist - testing students, placing them in classes, orienting within SMAS programs.   

What do you like best about working at SMAS?
I like the people I work with.

How did you feel about applying to work as staff at your own school?  
Less scary; It was my comfort zone, but at the same time it was little bit weird to be interviewed by people i knew for years as my teachers.  

Do you have any advice for other ESL students?
Don't give up!

#student2staff  #adultedworks  #learner2earner #adultedmatters  #don'tgiveup

Marina in action:

Marching in the San Mateo Parade

Denise, Marina, and Cristina
fundraising for their trip to the AAACE Conference -
a national conference about Adult Education.
They presented at the conference.



Marina mailing her letter to Governor Brown on Red Letter Day

 

 

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Cissie West: Student to SMAS Staff Success Story

Adult Ed Works!  A Student to SMAS Staff Success Story

Cissie at her desk in the SMART Center

Did you know that several SMAS staff members are former SMAS students?  How did they go from student to staff?  Teacher Cynthia sat down with one of these success stories, Cissie West, to find out.  You might know Cissie - she works at the front desk of our school in the afternoon, welcoming everyone who walks in the door, answering questions, answering the phone, and making sure newcomers know where to go.

What class did you take at our school?

Diane’s class - Office skills in 2002 or 2003.  I was in the class for a year.

(This class is now called "Modern Office Technology."  If you follow the guidelines, you can get college credit for it.  Learn more here.)

When did you start working at our school?

I was hired in 2004.

What do you do at our school?

My first position was working for Judy Teitler.  She was the head of the Fifty Plus program - for Older Adults.  I was her assistant.  Then I worked for Lynda Mathe, then Jeri - who is the head of the Fifty Plus program now.  And now I’m at the front desk.

What is the name of your position now?

Classified Office 1.

When you started working at our school, had you worked in an office before?  

Yes, I managed a tire company and a countertop company.

Why did you take Diane’s class?   

After 13 years of all the other jobs, I needed to relearn things.  When you work in an office, you have to know more, like spreadsheets.  Computers were getting more popular.  When I was working in the countertop store, it was working with paper and graphs.  I designed kitchen and baths.  I went from the countertop to the tire company.  The companies closed and that’s why I left both of them.  I worked at both the tire company and SMAS for a while.  

I had to update my brain cells.  Diane helped me so much.  Writing on paper is one thing.  Being able to do spreadsheets and write emails in a professional manner... That’s another!

Do you have any advice for other people who have who have been laid off or lost their job?

Go see Diane.  I’m telling you - she is great!   Nowadays a lot of office work is needed.  You learn everything in Diane’s class.  It’s the perfect class for anybody.  Even people opening up their own business.  You learn quickbooks.  So you can learn to manage your book for your own company.

What do you like about working at the adult school?

The people, the ones who want to learn.  

It’s a challenge for me, too.  It makes me want to learn a second language now.

Thank you, Cissie, for sharing some of your story with us.  Your advice can help other people who have lost their job or are looking for a new or better job.  You remind us, Adult Education Matters!  Adult Ed Works!

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