Academically, I have excelled over the years, and I believe I have the right skills to help students currently navigating through the intricate web of the college process. As a high school senior, I scored a near perfect score on the ACT, earning a 35. In my undergraduate studies at UCLA, I have managed to earn my four year degree in only three years while keeping a high GPA that earned me Magna Cum Laude Honors, as well as taking advanced classes that earned me UCLA College Honors.
Through UCLA, I have experience living in Korea. I was awarded as a Korea University Undergraduate Fellow. Last summer UCLA funded my studies, and I lived in Anam, Seoul, and attended Korea University. I adapted to the culture quite easily and am eager to return to practice my Korean language skills and to reconnect with many of my Korean friends.
I believe I would excel in this type of position because not only do I have the academic merit to teach these at times advanced courses, but because I also have work experience that has fostered my interpersonal relations. Working as both a Spanish tutor and a Customer Service Representative as Whole Foods Market has prepared me to deal with people in a calm and mature manner. My familiarity with the college process with help ease the nerves of students caught up in dealing with competitive American Universities. Just as these students are preparing to take the next step in their academic careers, after this next year I plan on taking mine and continuing on the Graduate School. I plan to take the GRE in October before my period of availability and will also be able to offer insight on this process.

My professional endeavors have enhanced my creative problem-solving and interpersonal skills. As a VISAS language consultant, I helped international students improve their conversational English language skills. To work through miscommunications and misunderstandings, I worked together with my students to develop creative communication skills, thus enhancing my social communication skills, as well as my collaborative skills. Additionally, for many of my internships, I was often tasked with research assignments. When the answers to my questions were not easily found, I took the initiative to cold-call companies and interview people directly. This highlights my self-motivation, as well as my determination to excel at the task at hand. I believe that my determination and my creativity will be an asset to GLOII and advantageous creating a positive and effective learning environment.

My academic interests will also be beneficial in this role. I have taken a diverse set of classes, ranging from Comparative Politics to World War II History, as well as several psychology courses. I believe I am well equipped and well experienced to teach these broad academic subjects effectively and clearly. Not only am I well-versed in these subjects, I am also highly interested in these topics, which will make teaching both easier and better, for myself and for the students. Furthermore, as an intern for Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation, a bureau in the United States Department of the Interior, I was immersed in not only the current state the U.S politics and the U.S government but also the history of the government. I believe this experience will be beneficial when teaching students topics regarding the United States government, as well as United States history.

Lastly, I have tutoring experience in reading, writing, and math. Though they were for a younger group of students, I believe I can take the skills and experiences gained from tutoring elementary students and use them to become a better and more effective teacher to older students.
Lastly, I have experience tutoring young elementary students in reading, writing, and math. Though students taking AP and SAT preparation classes would be older, I believe I can take the skills and experiences gains from teaching younger students and use them to become an effective teacher for older students as well.

Dear to whom it may concern,

My name is Yanira Reyes, an American, I’m 26 years old and currently teaching Spanish at a high school. I have been working at Shawnee Mission School District since 2015. I have also taught English abroad in South Korea for a year. After having taught in Korea I knew I wanted to keep teaching and decided to obtain my masters. I have a Master’s in Education and a certification in TEFL from the United States.

My experiences have mold me to become the teacher I am now. My students are the ones who keep molding me to become the best version of myself. Just like my students push me to be better each day, I also empower my students to be themselves and to follow their passion. I constantly try to get involved with the community and see how my lesson plans can extend into the events in the community. For I believe my students will succeed if I make my assignment more meaningful, relevant, and fun.

Some of the assignment I have created have gotten my students rewards and recognitions:

• Creating your ideal business idea (Bizfest in Kansas City – 2nd place)
• Creating a social justice video for a film festival (Central Missouri University)
• Writing a poem about a theme “It starts with me” (Kansas State PTO – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and this year possibly state)
• Creating a painting using the same style of a Hispanic artist or being influence by the Hispanic community. (Got to display their art work at first Friday downtown KC)
• Write an essay in Spanish for a scholarship… have only had one winner for this.

There are more events I would like my students to get involved, but at the moment these are events I have been successfully to have my students partake. I also take my top students, who have shown great leadership attributes, to leadership conferences. I believe if I ask my students to be great leaders I have the responsibility to give them tools to do so.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Yanira Reyes