Rebellious Student Becomes High School Advisor
By Yesenia Ortega
The room displayed posters of César Chávez and Frida Kahlo, a wall covered with pictures of current and previous students, and a name plate at the front of the desk: Maria Trejo, Student Advisor. Years ago Trejo, of all people, wouldn’t have imagined finding herself here. Who knew that a once rebellious student would be advising at-risk youth, guiding them towards graduation?
“I struggled a bit in high school,” she laughs. “I was a bit of a pain at times, I guess. I didn’t necessarily push myself, and I wasn’t on the university track.”
So how did an underachiever end up working as a counselor in an East Side Union District high school?
As a student at San José State University, Trejo struggled to decide on a course of study until she finally chose to work with students. Through her personal experience, she understood the hardships lower-income and culturally diverse students face in the education system. “A lot of talented Latino students get lost in the high student-to-counselor ratio. I wanted to help change this.”
As a past at-risk student herself, she identifies with her students. It was through the help and guidance of her teachers that she was able to attend San José State University. She received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, a master’s in education, a Pupil Personnel Services Credential, and a teaching credential, all of which helped her get become an advisor at Andrew Hill High School.
Looking back, she thanks her past educators for leading her to the path she now travels.
Through the years several teachers came to her aid in times of need, whether it was for behavioral, educational, or financial issues. “I had great teachers who took care of me. A teacher once took care of me while my grandmother was in the hospital after suffering a heart attack. She had her own family, but she took me in. I’m assuming that I would have gone to foster care if she hadn’t helped me. I was lucky.”
Trejo hopes to achieve these same goals with her own students. Her current advising position allows her to meet with more students one-on-one and help them with any social or emotional issues that prevent them from being successful in class: bullying issues, theft, mediations, teacher-student relationships, and much more. “I had a lot of teachers who always took care of me in some way. I have to do the same for my students.”
Trejo’s students also help her, she claims, because back in 2009 they convinced her to expand her college education and pursue a teaching credential. “The teaching credential gave me more job security, and it was a stepping stone in order to apply for a counseling job or what I do now, campus advisor. I needed to get my foot in the door as a certified employee. It was the right choice.”
So what’s next for the rebel-turned-counselor?
“I’m focusing on improving how I deal with the discipline issues that we have at school. It’s difficult to remain calm at all times when you have the same kids making the same bad choices. Treating kids with respect is important, but also providing structure and setting clear expectations is always something that I want to improve on.”
San José State University is the primary source for teacher education in the Bay Area. The College of Humanities and the Arts is proud to serve approximately 500 students seeking a teaching credential in Chinese, Spanish, French, English, Art, Music, Theatre, Creative Arts, and Liberal Studies.
