Noyce Scholar Profile
Javier Arechiga
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Algebra I/II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
N/A
Background:
I have lived in the city of Compton my entire life. I am the first in my family to graduate high school and attend college. My number one goal is to attain a degree in math, so I can give back to the community. I enjoy math because I love the challenge. Besides school, I enjoy playing basketball in my spare time.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach math because I feel that I can make a difference in the community. When I was a student in high school, we had math teachers who were not fully qualified to teach mathematics. Therefore, most of us left high school with weak math skills. This is why I would want to take the initiative and make a difference in the students’ lives.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
By participating in the Calculus Saturday Academy as a student teacher, I gained valuable information and, most importantly, experienced a memorable moments. One student told me, “I learned more from you this Saturday than I did in an entire week in class.” I did not know how to react at first. It made me feel good and, most importantly, I knew that I was doing my job.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
If it were not for the Noyce program and its faculty, I would not have been where I am right now. First of all, the Noyce program is like my family. They always take care of me in terms of making sure everything is going good in my classes, they advise me, and, most valuable, they place me in real schools as a student teacher to gain unforgettable experiences. Another great thing about the Noyce program is that it provides financial assistance. I do not have to worry about working a ridiculous amount of hours to support myself. It allows me to concentrate on my studies.
