Teaching 'a calling' for graduate

Emily Rodriguez earns bachelor’s degree in Child, Adolescent and Family Studies

By California State University, Bakersfield

December 13^th, 2023

Emily Rodriguez’s interest in becoming an elementary school teacher began when she was just a child herself.

When she was 13 years old, Rodriguez was asked to help with a special needs program at her church, St. Francis Parish. She assisted a girl with Down Syndrome for two years, working with her on lesson plans, projects and preparing her to receive first communion. She found it to be a very rewarding experience.

“That was the first time I realized I wanted to work with kids,” she said. “Ever since then, that’s what I’ve done.”

Rodriguez went on to serve and mentor students during high school and, when it came time to consider college, she knew she wanted to be part of a major that would help prepare her to become a teacher.

Rodriguez joined CSUB as a freshmen in Fall 2020 and, less than four years later, is set to take the stage at commencement this week to receive her bachelor’s degree in Child, Adolescent and Family Studies (CAFS).

“I can’t believe I’m at the end,” she said. “The whole experience has been great. I’m a little sad that it’s ending, but I know I am graduating with knowledge that I know will be useful in the classroom.”

Rodriguez’s experience at St. Francis led to a whole new path for her. When she was 16 years old, Rodriguez was asked by her neighbors to help their daughter, who was the same age and has Down Syndrome.

They both attended the same high school, so Rodriguez would drop her off and pick her up as well as help her with classwork and anything else she needed. During this time, Rodriguez also got to know the other students in the girl’s special education class and was able to develop a strong rapport with them.

“I was able to build relationships with the other kids in that class,” she said. “I would walk them around school or eat lunch with them. I had a great time doing it.”

Rodriguez also had the opportunity to help mentor children as part of a Vacation Bible School at St. Francis, during which she led groups of children 7 to 10 years old in prayer and worship.

These experiences have informed her decisions as an adult. For three years starting at age 19, Rodriguez worked as a caretaker for a 3-year-old boy with autism at A Nana’s Touch Respite Care, a local business that assists people with special needs.

“Working with special needs children has been a beautiful experience to me. I find joy in working with those children because of the love and kindness they have for everyone,” she said. “All I want is for the child to be happy and safe and their parents to feel comfortable and content. If I can make that happen, then it fills my heart with pure joy. I feel blessed that I get to be a part of their journey, but I feel even more blessed that they are in mine.”

She has worked as a teacher’s aide for a transitional kindergarten classroom at St. Francis Parish School for the past year and a half, assisting with lesson planning and supervising students during recess and lunch.

“The kids respect me and it’s just fun to do,” she said. “I found that this is what I love, what I want to do. I just felt like this was a calling. There was no other explanation.”

'My perspective has changed'

While Rodriguez has enjoyed her work, she has also had to balance it with her school responsibilities. Coming to CSUB was difficult at first, she said, as she had to spend her first two years at the university learning remotely due to COVID-19.

Rodriguez was excited to have the opportunity to interact with her professors and fellow students in person when the campus reopened.

“I like to collaborate with others and get to know new people, so not being able to do so in person was challenging. I felt like I missed out of that,” she said. “Although it was challenging, I got to meet people in person by the end of my CSUB experience, and that’s what matters at the end of the day.”

Rodriguez said Academic Advisor Karen Ziegler-Lopez was a huge help to her when she first came to CSUB. She helped her sign up for classes, get transcripts and anything else Rodriguez needed assistance with.

“She was most supportive person. She really helped me feel motivated to finish,” she said.

Ziegler-Lopez, who also had Rodriguez in her first-year seminar course, said she was a very active member in an online class who always wanted to engage in discussion.

“She is disciplined about staying on-top of deadlines, is a hard worker, has reached out for help when she needs it and has asked great questions along the way. I am incredibly proud of Emily and am thrilled to see her accomplish one of her many goals,” she said.

Assistant CAFS Professor Hector Nolasco had Rodriguez for several classes. He was also impressed with her willingness to be an active participant in discussions, even when they were about emotionally challenging topics.

“Emily is an excellent student who always came into my class with a smile. I have wonderful memories of seeing her laugh and smile with her group members while working on class projects,” he said. “She was always a warm and friendly presence in the classroom, and I do not doubt that she will continue to be a wonderful student and person to be around.”

Rodriguez thoroughly enjoyed the CAFS program and believes it prepared her well for a career in teaching.

“The CAFS degree is an amazing major because not only has it prepared me on how to be a teacher but also how to care for a child,” she said. “I think my perspective has changed since starting at CSUB, for the better. I am excited to be in a classroom and teach the next generation.”

Rodriguez will be attending graduate school online through Grand Canyon University starting in January and hopes to get her master’s and teaching credential. She intends to teach children from kindergarten through third grade and hopes to one day work at Centennial Elementary, her old school.

“I had the best time there, and I hope to give that back to the kids one day,” she said. “Bakersfield is home to me. My whole family is here. I’ve built different connections around town and those relationships are really important to me.”

Rodriguez said she is grateful to CSUB for helping put her on a path to success.

“I’ve had great professors and made friendships I didn’t think I would build,” she said. “The whole CAFS Department has been wonderful. They made it a joy to be there.”