Alumni Spotlight – Carolina

We recently asked alumna Carolina, originally from Colombia, to tell us what she has been doing since leaving the program, and what some of her fondest memories were from her time teaching in the United States. Read below for Carolina’s responses!

Reflecting on her experience teaching in the U.S.

Q: What grade level did you teach?
A: I taught Kindergarten from 2015-2021.

Q: What school(s) did you teach at?
A: During my first year, I taught at Martin Millennium Academy in Tarboro, N.C. Then I spent the next five years at Rocky River Elementary in Concord, N.C.

Q: What inspired you to apply to teach in the U.S.?
A: Getting the chance to learn how kids are educated in the U.S. and to see firsthand what the school systems were like.

Q: What did you enjoy most about your time teaching in the U.S.?
A: Everything! It was an amazing learning and teaching experience.

What life looks like now

Q: Where are you now? Are you living in your home country, another country, or did you go somewhere else?
A: I am back home and living in Sogamoso, Colombia.

Q: Are you currently teaching? If not, what else are you doing?
A: Currently, I am working as an English teacher at a university and I’m also an interviewer for Cultural Care AuPair.

Q: Do you have any other life updates that you would like to share with us and the Participate Learning network?
A: I’m doing really well and enjoying life! I’m so happy to be back home, close to my family and my boyfriend.

Share 3-5 facts about your time teaching in the U.S. Think about favorite memories, travel experiences, special moments, accomplishments, or other things that happened during your time with the program.

• I loved celebrating all of the holidays at school with my students—especially Christmas and Thanksgiving.
• An experience I’ll never forget is when I took a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon!
• During my time in the U.S., I was able to take so many memorable trips with my friends.

Are you a former Participate Learning alumna or alumnus? Visit our ambassador alumni page for resources and to stay connected to other teachers who completed the program through our community of practice.