I was honored to be selected for the Faculty Spotlight last month at Columbia College in Sonora, California for publishing my memoir, Blue Star Bound. This recognition means a lot to me, particularly coming from Columbia College where I have a bit of fond history.
Fresh out of High School, I attended Columbia College for two years, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in 1996. It was a local option for me, allowing me to stay home and work while pursuing higher education.
Fast forward through more years of schooling - bachelor degrees in Kinesiology and Spanish, a California teaching credential and a Master's in English - I returned to Columbia College to teach Freshman Composition in 2005 and 2006. I also taught that course at Columbia's sister school, Modesto Junior College.
In January of 2007, my Costa Rican adventure began. I planned to just stay for a year, teaching English as a second language. But one year turned into sixteen.
I never dreamed that I would start a language school and manage it for twelve years in Liberia, Costa Rica. Nor did I expect to launch, alongside four incredible women, an educational non-profit foundation for underprivileged kids (2014-2022). I did not imagine falling in love so madly and deeply with Costa Rica, even becoming a citizen.
But Costa Rica wasn't all rainbows and sunshine. I went through some serious adversity and decided to move back home.
Upon returning to California in mid-2022, I applied for teaching positions everywhere. In 2024, out of the blue, I was called in for an interview at Columbia College. By spring semester of 2025, I was teaching an adult English Language Learner class through the college one night a week, in addition to my full-time high school teaching position. The class continues to be a highlight of my week.
All this to say, I am thrilled to be chosen for the Faculty Spotlight at an institution that I respect and appreciate very much. It feels amazing to be recognized in this way by the very place that lifted me up numerous times in my life, helping me reach for the stars.
September 2026 Columbia College Academic Senate Newsletter:
