Noyce Scholar Profile
Yadira Valdez
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 6-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Texas at El Paso
Current academic or teaching status:
Junior
School and school district:
UTEP Program with El Paso and Ysleta Independent School Districts
Background:
I am a 20-year-old Hispanic female. I have lived in El Paso, Texas my whole life, and am currently a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso. I’m a very happy and optimistic person and giving up is not an option for me.
Why do you want to teach:
Math has always been easy for me, but it wasn’t until high school that I became passionate about teaching math. In high school I started tutoring my friends and classmates, and seeing excitement in their faces made me realize how rewarding it is to teach. I can honestly say that I’ve had great teachers in my life who have inspired me and led me to this profession. I not only intend to teach students how to solve math problems, but also want to be a role model for them because I believe teachers have the power to change students’ lives.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
One of the many memorable experiences that I’ve had was as a tutor at Raymond Telles Academy (a high school for alternative kids in El Paso). A student was constantly disrupting class so I talked to her. After our talk, she stopped disrupting class, and I helped her with her math. A couple of weeks later she told me “Thank you for helping me, I want to be like you when I grow up.” When she said this, I had an amazing feeling inside.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program is an incredible opportunity that is helping me reach my goals. Being a full-time student with a part-tine job was very difficult. Thanks to the financial help the program gave me, I was able to quit my job and focus on school. This program has also provided me with rich information that I will need once I start teaching. It has also given me the chance to network with people who have more experience than I do.
