Bio
Year: Senior
Cohort: 2025
Major: EDLS
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Interview
Question: With a choice of majors, why did you pick Education: Liberal Studies?
Destiny: Ever since I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher. I started with the psychology major because of the assumption that teachers are not treated that well and the things they have to go through. It kind of discouraged me a little bit. But later on I thought about what I wanted to graduate in. I realized this is what I want to do and I’m going to try it. So I switched into the major and just felt so at peace with it. I entered the major pretty fast. It’s a new major and I had to take new courses. But I learned so much. It wasn’t overwhelming because it was so enjoyable and fun.
I also have a job working with kids. I actually work at the elementary school that I went to as a kid in South San Francisco, called Buri Buri Elementary School. I work with my past teachers. It’s so cool how it all came around. I was inspired by my elementary school, middle school, and high school teachers; when you have that connection with your teacher. Even if you don’t like that subject, the teacher makes you like the subject. It inspired me to be that teacher for another kid. That’s how I try to work with the students. It’s not only knowing them as a student, but as a person.
Once I had my job and realized I like working with kids, I knew teaching was worth it. It’s already fun doing it at my job. It kind of solidified my resolve when I was working with kids. So that’s when I switched majors. I know it sounds cliche, but if you don’t have a passion for it, you’re going to get burnt out quickly. You’re dealing with whole human beings. Some say, oh, they’re just kids. But no, this is our next generation. These are the kids that are going to continue society. Build them up and it will go well. You can help them understand, you could teach them. That’s the whole point.
Question: Tell me more about your after school position. What does a typical day look like? Have you learned anything in the EDLS classes that have helped you or that you drew upon?
Destiny: At work, I was inspired to use the lessons I learned in the life science class I had with Professor Tim Simpson [INTD 320 Exploring Life Science]. He had hands-on activities that we did in class. If we were going to do it for the students, we had to do it for ourselves as well. I actually went up to him after class and asked if I could use his supplies for my work. I brought in everything that we learned in class and did the whole lesson at my job. They loved it. I taught the lesson for all grades, from kindergartners to fifth graders. I catered it to each grade level. When I did it for kindergarten, I would take a little bit more time and explain the paleontology lesson differently. The fifth graders might know what paleontology is, but the kindergartners wouldn’t know what that is yet. We watched a video together, discussed the video, and then we did the activity together.
My coordinator helped me to find a time to do the science lesson. We usually have certain activities that we prepare for. But because I had a lesson ready to go, the teacher didn’t have to prepare one herself. She had me take over the lesson.
I work part time because I can’t be doing full time with my school schedule. It’s after school from 2:15 to 6 pm. We start the day with announcements, then ask how their day is going. Then we let them know the things that we’re going to do that day. We have outside time, homework time, and activity time. At the end of the day we have centers for students to go to in the classroom, which are like tables with a certain focus. For example, it could be painting at one table, so it’s the painting center. There are different centers to do different things.
Question: Are you going to pursue a teaching credential?
Destiny: I’m looking at it right now. My plan is to work in a preschool and take credential classes at the same time. You don’t need a credential for preschool, just a degree. I want to be in the classroom to gain that experience.
Question: The EDLS classes cover a lot of different content. Are there any major classes you particularly liked?
Destiny: Can I pick more than one? Right now I’m in Arts for Educators. I love that class. We practice lesson plans, like in the science class. The professor is amazing. I wouldn’t say I’m an artistic person, creative person. But being in that class, I feel like it sparked something in me. I have a sketchbook now and I’m drawing and making sketches in my sketchbook. I never used to do that, but because of that class, I’m continuing the habit. We learn to cater to certain grades with lesson plans and stuff like that. She explains the lesson in terms of the history of certain arts, goes over the vocabulary and the terms we need to know before we do the art ourselves. It’s great. We get to build almost like an art portfolio. So when we want to use that lesson plan later, I have everything made. That’s perfect.
I also really liked the sociology class Urban Education as well as both hands-on science classes, Exploring Life Science and Exploring Physical Science. I had Tim Simpson for both.
I also loved Chris O’Sullivan’s history class, European and U.S. History and California Geography and History. He is the greatest ever. I am the biggest history nerd. I just love it. And the way he teaches is just so engulfing. It could be stats on the slide, but he makes it so fun. Sometimes you can get overwhelmed with all the numbers, but he does a great job breaking down things and tying them to historical events. I have saved notes from his classes so if I teach California history in my class, I’ll be able to use all the information he gave us. He would guide us, suggesting we might want to write something down for a future lesson we might teach. I have my notebook and all my notes so I can make lesson plans. I have a whole box of my notebooks for my future teaching.
What I like about all the EDLS classes is they are hands on. Whatever you’re doing with the kids, you’re doing it for yourself as well. You can imagine ways to adapt the lesson plan and the themes of the lesson. You can make changes if you think the kids wouldn’t enjoy something or add something you think they might really like.
Question: What are some of your interests outside of education, such as hobbies?
Destiny: I play the drums. I’m self-taught. I grew up in church, and when I was younger, my parents weren’t well off, so they weren’t able to afford drum lessons for me. So I basically taught myself. I used to get pillows and hit them by myself, or I would watch YouTube videos and stuff like that. I had a few adults that I used to watch. The experience ties in with teaching a child about what they want to learn. The child can just watch you and learn from your model. We’ve all had teachers that we didn’t like. You learn their little mannerisms and the way they act and stuff, and you think, I don’t like that. It’s almost like the same thing with drums, but it’s watching stuff you like. I saw different techniques on YouTube or from adults. I would imitate it myself, but make it my own. You can tie that with teaching too.
I practiced on those pillows all the time. I started on the pillows and then a drum pad at age 11. I had an actual drum set at 12. Now, I still play for myself and I play for church. I get called to play at different places too. This summer I went to LA and I was playing over there.
