Me and Dr. Teresa McKenna on the day of my Ph.D. hooding.
My favorite thing to do used to be calligraphy but I don’t do very much of it anymore. Now I love reading and working with all things digital, especially ways that show off my students’ research and writing the way this blog will. I love looking at pictures of pets and very much want a dog of my own. Sadly my landlord says no. Boo.
This picture was taken on one of the happiest days of my life — the day my PhD advisor hooded me, making me a “doctor.”
The thing I most want you to know about this class and why I do what I do:
There are not enough voices engaged in Chicana/o studies in this university, in this state, in this country, in this world. Our artists, our people are under attack and it has pretty much ever been so. Yet there is so much that is significant in Chicana/o thought, in literature, art and in our own lives. I teach what I do the way I do because I want us to see it and talk about it together. I want my classes to add to and be part of this collection, to hear the voices from our past and amplify them. I want your voices to be amplified, your word to be read, your art seen. And so there is a lot of for us to look at, to read, to watch, to uncover. It is work and it is amazing.
Hello everyone,
My name is Sammuel Valdez. I go by Sam or Sammy. I was born and raised in East Los Angeles. I lived there all my life, until about 2 years ago. This is my last college course as an undergraduate. I will be graduating this December, but from a different school (University of Louisiana, Monroe). I was supposed to attend CSUDH, but I decided to attend ULM because of football. It is a small Division 1 school in Northeastern Louisiana. I coached football there for 2 years, and now, I am coaching at school in Florida. After I graduate in December, I will be getting my Masters degree in Educational Leadership. Although this job is very demanding, I absolutely love it! Prior to leaving to Louisiana, I worked in special education for over 3 years.
As much as I love coaching college football, I do not see myself doing it forever. I am grateful for the opportunities that this career has afforded me (traveling, free education, learning from experienced coaches, etc.), but I have other things that I want to do in my life. Once I am done coaching, I want to be able to go back home and impart all the wisdom and knowledge that I have obtained on the people of my community. I want to coach high school football and work in education in some way (teacher, principal, professor, etc.). I also want to be able to travel as much as possible. I am passionate about education and teaching, and I have a true affinity for working with children.
Hello everyone,
My name is Sammuel Valdez. I go by Sam or Sammy. I was born and raised in East Los Angeles. I lived there all my life, until about 2 years ago. This is my last college course as an undergraduate. I will be graduating this December, but from a different school (University of Louisiana, Monroe). I was supposed to attend CSUDH, but I decided to attend ULM because of football. It is a small Division 1 school in Northeastern Louisiana. I coached football there for 2 years, and now, I am coaching at school in Florida. After I graduate in December, I will be getting my Masters degree in Educational Leadership. I also plan to get a Doctorate in Education. Although this job is very demanding, I absolutely love it! Prior to leaving to Louisiana, I worked in special education for over 3 years.
As much as I love coaching college football, I do not see myself doing it forever. I am grateful for the opportunities that this career has afforded me (traveling, free education, learning from experienced coaches, etc.), but I have other things that I want to do in my life. Once I am done coaching, I want to be able to go back home and impart all the wisdom and knowledge that I have obtained on the people of my community. I want to coach high school football and work in education in some way (teacher, principal, professor, etc.). I also want to be able to travel as much as possible. I am passionate about education and teaching, and I have a true affinity for working with children.