Selem Victoria: Dean's Scholarship

Selem Victoria has been awarded the Dean's Scholarship during the UCI School of Education 2018-2019 Scholarship Award Ceremony. Selem is pursuing her Multiple Subject Master of Arts in Teaching. Below, she shares her thoughts about her academic journey.

November 2018

I am 30 years old. I was born and raised in Orange County. I still live in Orange County and am currently in the MAT Program. I did not always want to become a teacher, but after working as a teacher’s aide for eight years and as a Behavioral Interventionist for a year-and-a-half, I realized how fulfilling it is to work with children and their families.

Growing up, I always admired my oldest sister. It was because of her encouragement that I decided to return to college and pursue a teaching career. Out of my two sisters, she was definitely the most serious and studious one growing up. On the other hand, I was more playful and struggled with reading for the first couple of years of elementary school. My oldest sister is currently a history teacher in Los Angeles. She was the first to graduate from our family and has always been my role model. It was she that encouraged me to apply to UCI. I am glad I listened to her advice because this past winter quarter I graduated from UCI with a B.A. in Education Sciences.  
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I am a mother to two beautiful boys. My oldest is ten and in fifth grade. He is very proud and excited that I will become a teacher but also misses spending time with me. My youngest just turned three this past month and is also an anteater like me. He has been attending  UCI daycare since he was six months. They are both by far my biggest motivation. Everything I do is for them, and every decision I make is with them in mind. Life with a toddler and pre-teen is definitely a busy one. Juggling between their obligations and mine has been difficult but I am thankful to my family for all their support. I would not be where I am today without them. 

Associate Dean Elizabeth van Es and Selem Victoria