阿斯特丽德·维加，22年
家乡: 堪萨斯城，堪萨斯州
高等学校: 哈蒙高中
学位课程:教育
阿斯特丽德·维加（阿斯特丽德维加）和家人从墨西哥搬到美国时才5岁。 由于她的父母都说西班牙语，而她自己的母语是西班牙语，因此上学对她来说是一个挑战，因为她必须克服语言障碍。
值得庆幸的是，她有老师愿意在她学习英语的过程中与她一起工作。 快进几年后，作为威尼斯人娱乐城教育学院提供的语言习得和多样性入门课程（英语250）的一部分，这位二年级的学前教育学生有机会在东北中学与英语学习者（ELL）一起工作时，把它传递出去。
“I get the freedom to chart my own path and define my career.” —
“I wanted to become a teacher because I want to work with kids, and I like to give back,” Vega said. “My teachers always pushed me to do my best and I want to impact kids and help them succeed.”
As a young mom, Vega’s college experience is nontraditional. 她作为一名大一新生来到威尼斯人娱乐城，对护理学感兴趣，但不得不抽出时间抚养儿子。 After re-enrolling in school — this time at Metropolitan Community College — she changed her major to education.
“My parents didn’t go to college, but they always stressed the importance of going and finishing. And now I tell my younger sisters and my son ‘I made it, so you have to make it. No ifs, ands or buts.’”
Upon receiving her associate’s degree in education, Vega is back at 威尼斯人娱乐城 working to complete her bachelor’s degree. Inspired by her own life experience and the 教育学院's English 250 course, she’s considering becoming a teacher for English Language Learners.
“It’s amazing to see the students grow and, working a lot with Spanish-speaking kids, I like being an inspiration to help them see what they can become.”
东北中学是堪萨斯城公立学校英语学习者的中心。 来自不同国际背景的孩子们从堪萨斯城地铁的各个地方乘坐巴士到东北中学上ELL课程。 在课堂上，孩子们按照理解水平分组，威尼斯人娱乐城学生每周花一天时间与他们一起进行阅读和理解活动，为期13周。
“It’s the small moments like seeing two children with different backgrounds and native languages speaking with one another in English that give me the most joy.” —
The Spanish-speaking students in Vega’s group were so excited that she speaks their language and can help them, although Vega says she tries to balance between Spanish and English so that they can practice communicating in both languages.
“I come up with different lesson plans and fun activities beyond what’s expected because I want them to learn,” Vega said. “I didn’t have Hispanic teachers growing up but my teachers were supportive and helped me learn more than I thought I could. The teachers at Northeast do an amazing job with the kids in the ELL class.”
多样性和包容性的宝贵课程贯穿整个课堂，因为学生们被鼓励互相帮助，找到创造性的方法，找出如何将各自语言中的特定单词翻译成英语。
“I wanted to become a teacher because I want to work with kids and I like to give back. My teachers always pushed me to do my best and I want to impact kids and help them succeed” —
“It’s tough sometimes because these kids are trying to adjust to learning a new language on top of adjusting to a new home life as several of them are new Americans, but it’s the small moments like seeing two children with different backgrounds and native languages speaking with one another in English that give me the most joy,” said Quinlinn O’Donnell, Northeast Middle ELL teacher. “Or when a word they’ve been struggling with finally clicks and I’m like ‘Yes! 你懂的！’”
ELL的学生，其中一些是难民，他们来自世界各地，从墨西哥到缅甸再到索马里。
维加说，她在堪萨斯大学堪萨斯分校的教育中最享受的是与东北大学的ELL学生一起工作的经历。
“I get the freedom to chart my own path and define my career,” Vega said. “I think teaching ELL will open up a lot of opportunities for me. I wish I can continue working with the students and seeing how far they go.”