First gen journey to illinois
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE INTERACTION GUIDE
FAMILY AND GROWING UP
INTRO TO SCHOOL: PRIVATE
TRANSITION TO PUBLIC
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CHANGE
HIGH SCHOOL ENHANCMENT
COLLEGE AND CAREER
Itzel Gamboa EPSY 201 AD2
Picture 1: This is a recent picture of my entire family taken over the summer. It extends even further than this, but a majority of my family are immigrants living in cities all across the US and mainly Spanish speaking. Picture 2: I visit Mexico often to become immersed and educated in my culture, especially early on. Here is a picture of my mom showing me how to make tortillas in Mexico! Picture 3: Here is another picture of me as a baby in a cenote in Mexico with my parents. A cenote is a natural sinkhole within a cave that you can swim in! We are pictured with a modern Aztec leopard warrior. Growing up, I was taught the importance of recognizing my indigenous ancenstors as that is related to the origin of my name, Itzel (Chichen Itza and Ixchel).
FAMILY AND GROWING UP
"No, I can't forget you No, I can't erase you You taught me how to love You taught me how to dance"- Bad Bunny (English Translation)
+Info
INTRO TO SCHOOL: PRIVATE
Picture 1: This picture was taken on my first day of second grade. I attended a very small, private Catholic school from Pre-K to 3rd grade. My third grade class only had around 8 people in it, which is why I had to eventually switch schools. Picture 2: My first ever day of school! I was so excited compared to my classmates, who were pretty sad to leave their parents. From then on I had a feeling the school setting was made for me, and I embtaced and enjoyed it!Picture 3: Here I am pictured with kindergarten teachers. I have very fond memories of this year as this is when I began going to school for the full day and noticing older students getting involved and taking school more seriously.
"What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing And what do we think we might see? Someday we'll find it The rainbow connection The lovers, the dreamers and me" - Kermit the Frog
+Info
Picture 1: One of the largest things I feared going to my new school was the fact that I thought I didn't have much in common with the kids there and would struggle making friends. However, the diversity of my school allowed me to connect to people from my background, as well as others which I wasn't as familiar with. After becoming friends with these people, I learned that they had made similar assumptions about me and assumed I wouldn't become friends with them because of the school I came from. This really provided me with an early outlook on assumptions and the importance of cultural awareness and representation. Picture 2: During this time period, I found myself embracing my background more and feeling more confident talking openly about my traditions and speaking Spanish. While private school wasn't rejecting my ability to do this, the connections I made with other Mexican students in public school completely altered my perspective.
TRANSITION TO PUBLIC
"Fall is here, hear the yell Back to school, ring the bell Brand new shoes, walking blues Climb the fence, books and pens I can tell that we are gonna be friends"- The White Stripes
+Info
Picture 1: During the years I was in middle school, I began to take up an interest in teaching and working with kids because I got more opportunities to learn about community involvement. I found myself wanting to help more with the kids in my family, and also picked up similar habits that my mom has from working in school environments. Picture 2: Sadly, COVID-19 hit while I was in the middle of junior high, and I wasn't able to get a proper preparational experience before entering high school. However, time at home allowed me to get very close to my family as well as deeply discover my own identity. I found a deeper love for reading, music, and organization, and felt more creative and secure in my sense of being.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CHANGE
"They're driving fast cars, but they don't know where they're going In the fast lane, living life without knowing" - Echosmith
+Info
Picture 1: I have played volleyball since I was in the second grade. By being involved in club and school sports for so long, I learned the importance of communication and time management. Being a captain allowed me to work on my public speaking and leadership skills. I owe a lot to volleyball because nearly everything good in my life has stemmed from it!Picture 2: My mom's recent work in special ed has brought me to take a large interest in it as well, working with special ed students in a summer camp as a job this summer! Shadowing her and working with students of such a wide range of abilities throughout high school only strengthened my excitement to go into education! Picture 3: I was able to on a trip that younger me would've never believed: Washington, D.C.! I applied for this school wide scholarship and received it with one other friend of mine, and I loved it so much. In this picture I interviewed one of our congresswomen, Representative Delia Ramirez! Speaking to a fellow Latina about issues facing the Latino community in the Chicagoland area was very inspiring.
HIGH SCHOOL ENHANCMENT
"All these places had their moments With lovers and friends, I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I've loved them all" - The Beatles
+Info
Picture 1: My graduation from high school with multiple honors was already more a large accomplishment. However, graduation wasn't sad for me as I just could not wait to come down to U of I and get started on my pathway to teaching. Picture 2: I was blessed enough to be a recipient of the Golden Apple Scholarship this summer! Not only does this national program provide assistance to college students studying education, but it provides so many resources to real teachers and establishes strong networking opportunities. Picture 3: My parents were able to visit me during family weekend, and it was such a great time for me. I felt so happy showing them around a college campus, a place and experience they have limited familiarity with. I always make sure to tell them how grateful I am for their support to get me here, and I hope that I am being a role model for my younger brother to also pursue higher education and make our family proud!
COLLEGE AND CAREER
"Drench yourself in words unspokenLive your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten" - Natasha Bedingfield
+Info
INTERACTION GUIDE
Click to open a book.
Click to reveal pictures. You can also click on a picture to see it in full screen.
Click to reveal a song (Spotify link).
+Info
Click to reveal more text/information.
Click to return to the home/starting page and see the other books.
Following COVID-19, the lack of social interaction and my newfound sense of self allowed me to enter high school with goals related to career preparation, social involvement with service in my community, and bonding closely with my teachers. Volleyball constructed my confidence and leadership, and joining many clubs on campus familiarized me with volunteering and members of my community outside of school. Working with kids and preparing for my goal of teaching also became more relevant in my life and exciting to experience.
Born into a Mexican-American family, I quickly learned the values of community, tradition, and responsibility. My grandparents especially mean so much to me because they have shared their stories of their arrival to the US with me so many times and I can't help but think about them whenever I do something at UIUC. Sharing my experiences and making my family proud is always my biggest goal in life, and my time so far at U of I has already strengthened my bond and understanding of where I come from and how valuable my culture is.
Being first generation made navigating the college application and decision experience very intimidating and nerve racking. However, I owe a lot to my parents and school counselors for getting me to my dream school: UIUC! I feel so happy that I am already secure and prepared in my career path, and ended up at a top school which I had my heart set on for a very long time. The endless opportunities at UIUC, especially for Latino/a students, push me to prove assumptions wrong and make my mark at this school with my identity and culture elevating me, not anchoring me down.
My middle school was a very diverse space, yet tensions were constantly high with everyone gaining more independence and developing physically and mentally. When COVID struck, I honestly felt it became easier to go through my journey for identity. By being at home, I had plenty of time to indulge in new hobbies and surf social media, finding interests and traits which began to build a real "me" before high school.
To begin my schooling, I went to a very small private school. While I can now reflect that I didn't go to a "traditional" school, it holds very positive and impactful memories for me. I learned to comprehend religion, something my family emphasized but I never fully understood. I also found my passion for reading, and discovered a love for learning, becoming very close with all of my teachers and looking up to them.
I was unbelievably nervous when my parents told me it was time to move to a large public school. However, I learned a lot of valuable lessons from this experience. The people I felt intimidated by felt the same by me, and through openmindedness, I made closer connections with classmates than I ever had before due to relatability, local community relations, and similar ethnic backgrounds and families.
What you read: interactivity and animation can turn the most boring content into something fun. At Genially, we use AI (Awesome Interactivity) in all our designs, so you can level up with interactivity and turn your content into something that adds valueand engages.
Educational Autoethnography Itzel Gamboa EPSY
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Transcript
First gen journey to illinois
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE INTERACTION GUIDE
FAMILY AND GROWING UP
INTRO TO SCHOOL: PRIVATE
TRANSITION TO PUBLIC
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CHANGE
HIGH SCHOOL ENHANCMENT
COLLEGE AND CAREER
Itzel Gamboa EPSY 201 AD2
Picture 1: This is a recent picture of my entire family taken over the summer. It extends even further than this, but a majority of my family are immigrants living in cities all across the US and mainly Spanish speaking. Picture 2: I visit Mexico often to become immersed and educated in my culture, especially early on. Here is a picture of my mom showing me how to make tortillas in Mexico! Picture 3: Here is another picture of me as a baby in a cenote in Mexico with my parents. A cenote is a natural sinkhole within a cave that you can swim in! We are pictured with a modern Aztec leopard warrior. Growing up, I was taught the importance of recognizing my indigenous ancenstors as that is related to the origin of my name, Itzel (Chichen Itza and Ixchel).
FAMILY AND GROWING UP
"No, I can't forget you No, I can't erase you You taught me how to love You taught me how to dance"- Bad Bunny (English Translation)
+Info
INTRO TO SCHOOL: PRIVATE
Picture 1: This picture was taken on my first day of second grade. I attended a very small, private Catholic school from Pre-K to 3rd grade. My third grade class only had around 8 people in it, which is why I had to eventually switch schools. Picture 2: My first ever day of school! I was so excited compared to my classmates, who were pretty sad to leave their parents. From then on I had a feeling the school setting was made for me, and I embtaced and enjoyed it!Picture 3: Here I am pictured with kindergarten teachers. I have very fond memories of this year as this is when I began going to school for the full day and noticing older students getting involved and taking school more seriously.
"What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing And what do we think we might see? Someday we'll find it The rainbow connection The lovers, the dreamers and me" - Kermit the Frog
+Info
Picture 1: One of the largest things I feared going to my new school was the fact that I thought I didn't have much in common with the kids there and would struggle making friends. However, the diversity of my school allowed me to connect to people from my background, as well as others which I wasn't as familiar with. After becoming friends with these people, I learned that they had made similar assumptions about me and assumed I wouldn't become friends with them because of the school I came from. This really provided me with an early outlook on assumptions and the importance of cultural awareness and representation. Picture 2: During this time period, I found myself embracing my background more and feeling more confident talking openly about my traditions and speaking Spanish. While private school wasn't rejecting my ability to do this, the connections I made with other Mexican students in public school completely altered my perspective.
TRANSITION TO PUBLIC
"Fall is here, hear the yell Back to school, ring the bell Brand new shoes, walking blues Climb the fence, books and pens I can tell that we are gonna be friends"- The White Stripes
+Info
Picture 1: During the years I was in middle school, I began to take up an interest in teaching and working with kids because I got more opportunities to learn about community involvement. I found myself wanting to help more with the kids in my family, and also picked up similar habits that my mom has from working in school environments. Picture 2: Sadly, COVID-19 hit while I was in the middle of junior high, and I wasn't able to get a proper preparational experience before entering high school. However, time at home allowed me to get very close to my family as well as deeply discover my own identity. I found a deeper love for reading, music, and organization, and felt more creative and secure in my sense of being.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CHANGE
"They're driving fast cars, but they don't know where they're going In the fast lane, living life without knowing" - Echosmith
+Info
Picture 1: I have played volleyball since I was in the second grade. By being involved in club and school sports for so long, I learned the importance of communication and time management. Being a captain allowed me to work on my public speaking and leadership skills. I owe a lot to volleyball because nearly everything good in my life has stemmed from it!Picture 2: My mom's recent work in special ed has brought me to take a large interest in it as well, working with special ed students in a summer camp as a job this summer! Shadowing her and working with students of such a wide range of abilities throughout high school only strengthened my excitement to go into education! Picture 3: I was able to on a trip that younger me would've never believed: Washington, D.C.! I applied for this school wide scholarship and received it with one other friend of mine, and I loved it so much. In this picture I interviewed one of our congresswomen, Representative Delia Ramirez! Speaking to a fellow Latina about issues facing the Latino community in the Chicagoland area was very inspiring.
HIGH SCHOOL ENHANCMENT
"All these places had their moments With lovers and friends, I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I've loved them all" - The Beatles
+Info
Picture 1: My graduation from high school with multiple honors was already more a large accomplishment. However, graduation wasn't sad for me as I just could not wait to come down to U of I and get started on my pathway to teaching. Picture 2: I was blessed enough to be a recipient of the Golden Apple Scholarship this summer! Not only does this national program provide assistance to college students studying education, but it provides so many resources to real teachers and establishes strong networking opportunities. Picture 3: My parents were able to visit me during family weekend, and it was such a great time for me. I felt so happy showing them around a college campus, a place and experience they have limited familiarity with. I always make sure to tell them how grateful I am for their support to get me here, and I hope that I am being a role model for my younger brother to also pursue higher education and make our family proud!
COLLEGE AND CAREER
"Drench yourself in words unspokenLive your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten" - Natasha Bedingfield
+Info
INTERACTION GUIDE
Click to open a book.
Click to reveal pictures. You can also click on a picture to see it in full screen.
Click to reveal a song (Spotify link).
+Info
Click to reveal more text/information.
Click to return to the home/starting page and see the other books.
Following COVID-19, the lack of social interaction and my newfound sense of self allowed me to enter high school with goals related to career preparation, social involvement with service in my community, and bonding closely with my teachers. Volleyball constructed my confidence and leadership, and joining many clubs on campus familiarized me with volunteering and members of my community outside of school. Working with kids and preparing for my goal of teaching also became more relevant in my life and exciting to experience.
Born into a Mexican-American family, I quickly learned the values of community, tradition, and responsibility. My grandparents especially mean so much to me because they have shared their stories of their arrival to the US with me so many times and I can't help but think about them whenever I do something at UIUC. Sharing my experiences and making my family proud is always my biggest goal in life, and my time so far at U of I has already strengthened my bond and understanding of where I come from and how valuable my culture is.
Being first generation made navigating the college application and decision experience very intimidating and nerve racking. However, I owe a lot to my parents and school counselors for getting me to my dream school: UIUC! I feel so happy that I am already secure and prepared in my career path, and ended up at a top school which I had my heart set on for a very long time. The endless opportunities at UIUC, especially for Latino/a students, push me to prove assumptions wrong and make my mark at this school with my identity and culture elevating me, not anchoring me down.
My middle school was a very diverse space, yet tensions were constantly high with everyone gaining more independence and developing physically and mentally. When COVID struck, I honestly felt it became easier to go through my journey for identity. By being at home, I had plenty of time to indulge in new hobbies and surf social media, finding interests and traits which began to build a real "me" before high school.
To begin my schooling, I went to a very small private school. While I can now reflect that I didn't go to a "traditional" school, it holds very positive and impactful memories for me. I learned to comprehend religion, something my family emphasized but I never fully understood. I also found my passion for reading, and discovered a love for learning, becoming very close with all of my teachers and looking up to them.
I was unbelievably nervous when my parents told me it was time to move to a large public school. However, I learned a lot of valuable lessons from this experience. The people I felt intimidated by felt the same by me, and through openmindedness, I made closer connections with classmates than I ever had before due to relatability, local community relations, and similar ethnic backgrounds and families.
What you read: interactivity and animation can turn the most boring content into something fun. At Genially, we use AI (Awesome Interactivity) in all our designs, so you can level up with interactivity and turn your content into something that adds valueand engages.