What a great interview! I have found these essays to be so enlightening, and tremendously enjoyable to read. Bravo to David Gomez! You have helped me to understand not only your moving and impressive background but also the importance of community colleges. I, too, attended Teachers College and found it to be a transformative experience. Marlena, keep going on these extraordinary interviews that are so beautifully written.
I truly enjoyed and appreciated this interview. I felt that David’s personal experience was palpable, humble and articulate. I was pleased to learn about the Spanish immigrant experience. Marlena, as usual, your questions were sensitive.
This piece both connects emotionally and educationally. I didn’t get the importance of Community Colleges in this way, as a key stepping stone for our large Latino and black population.I am sending this on to my Book Group, as we just finished Latinoland but Maria Arena. You accomplish so much in this short interview. Congratulations! Your cousin Eve
What an inspiration. As a high school principal, I hope that I have a strong impact on my students' futures, encouraging them to go to college if they are unsure of their worth. I also have great appreciation for the Community College of Rhode Island. They allow for dual enrollment so that our students can start taking classes their in high school, and they are a free 2 year option that can launch students to a free bachelors from the University of Rhode Island if they keep their grades up. Affordable/free higher education is so important to develop the people in our states, and I'm proud of Rhode Island for funding it.
Amazing and profound that Rhode Island is providing free higher education for students willing to do the work. Y te admiro por tu trabajo como educador.
Marlena- Thanks for sharing this. I particularly enjoyed what David pointed out: "For a lot of immigrant groups, the only professionals they interact with are teachers; well, teachers and priests." I don't about now, but before I learned how to really be fluent in English, I learned a pretty harsh truth: If it's difficult for people to interact with you, the usually just won't. And for non-native speakers, this means that the work of assimilating is doubly hard. So I admire everyone who had pushed through and overcame that barrier. :)
That’s a sad piece. That discomfort and fear hold people back from reaching out. Your comment will make me more sensitive to others in general. I was particularly inspired here by David’s clear path from rather early in life (inspired by teachers).
Interesantísima y magnífica entrevista, te felicito!!
What a great interview! I have found these essays to be so enlightening, and tremendously enjoyable to read. Bravo to David Gomez! You have helped me to understand not only your moving and impressive background but also the importance of community colleges. I, too, attended Teachers College and found it to be a transformative experience. Marlena, keep going on these extraordinary interviews that are so beautifully written.
I truly enjoyed and appreciated this interview. I felt that David’s personal experience was palpable, humble and articulate. I was pleased to learn about the Spanish immigrant experience. Marlena, as usual, your questions were sensitive.
Thank you for reading this, Lynn. I always fall in love with the people I am interviewing. Can you tell?
This piece both connects emotionally and educationally. I didn’t get the importance of Community Colleges in this way, as a key stepping stone for our large Latino and black population.I am sending this on to my Book Group, as we just finished Latinoland but Maria Arena. You accomplish so much in this short interview. Congratulations! Your cousin Eve
Eve, I can imagine that this kind of story aligns with your life's work. I've just ordered Latinoland!
What a wonderful interview! Something to be read more than once! Thank you -
Patty, thank you for being open always to all these stories. The stories refill my heart every time.
What an inspiration. As a high school principal, I hope that I have a strong impact on my students' futures, encouraging them to go to college if they are unsure of their worth. I also have great appreciation for the Community College of Rhode Island. They allow for dual enrollment so that our students can start taking classes their in high school, and they are a free 2 year option that can launch students to a free bachelors from the University of Rhode Island if they keep their grades up. Affordable/free higher education is so important to develop the people in our states, and I'm proud of Rhode Island for funding it.
Amazing and profound that Rhode Island is providing free higher education for students willing to do the work. Y te admiro por tu trabajo como educador.
Marlena- Thanks for sharing this. I particularly enjoyed what David pointed out: "For a lot of immigrant groups, the only professionals they interact with are teachers; well, teachers and priests." I don't about now, but before I learned how to really be fluent in English, I learned a pretty harsh truth: If it's difficult for people to interact with you, the usually just won't. And for non-native speakers, this means that the work of assimilating is doubly hard. So I admire everyone who had pushed through and overcame that barrier. :)
That’s a sad piece. That discomfort and fear hold people back from reaching out. Your comment will make me more sensitive to others in general. I was particularly inspired here by David’s clear path from rather early in life (inspired by teachers).
I was also moved to read about the importance of teachers in Dr Gomez’s early years.