Cultivating Future Female Leaders

Teaching at Our Lady of Tepeyac is not just a profession for me—it is a mission rooted in service, gratitude, and purpose. Every day I step into my classroom, I am reminded that I am not only teaching literature; I am shaping voices, building confidence, and helping young women recognize the power they already carry within them.

The impact my students have on me is immeasurable. I often think about the teachers who shaped my own life—the ones who showed up when my world at home felt like it was on fire. In many ways, they were the extinguishers who brought calm, safety, and direction when I needed it most. That memory stays with me in everything I do as an educator. It reminds me that a classroom can be more than a space for learning—it can be a place of healing, belonging, and transformation. 

When I came to Tepeyac, I saw myself in my students. I saw young women who are full of empathy, strength, culture, and heart, but who sometimes need the tools and guidance to fully step into their power. That is what drives my teaching every day. My mission is to help them find and use their voices—not just in essays or discussions, but in life. 

I want my students to know that they deserve a seat at every table they enter. I want them to understand resilience—not as something abstract, but as something they live through, grow through, and rise with. Through literature, writing, and discussion, I challenge them to think critically about the world around them. We read texts that reflect not only classical traditions, but  also Asian literature, a spectrum of voices, and contemporary works that speak to identity, justice, and humanity. I want them to see that language is powerful—that stories can open doors, shift perspectives, and create change. 

As a proud Mexican American woman and the youngest of four, I carry my own story into my classroom with pride. My background reminds me daily of the importance of education as a tool for empowerment. I teach my students that learning is not passive—it is an act of becoming. It is how we grow, how we question, and how we build better futures for ourselves and our communities. 

At Tepeyac, I am not just teaching English. I am teaching voice, resilience, and belief. And in return, my students teach me every day what it means to lead with heart.

Teaching at Our Lady of Tepeyac is deeply personal to me. It is not simply a career—it is a calling rooted in faith, service, and love. Every day I walk into my classroom, I am reminded that I am part of something bigger than myself: a community dedicated to cultivating young women who will one day lead with strength, purpose, and heart. 

My students impact me in ways I cannot always put into words. They remind me daily why I chose this path. I often think about the teachers who shaped me growing up—the ones who provided stability when my life outside of school felt uncertain. Those educators became my safe space, my guidance, my reminder that I was capable of more. I carry that same responsibility now. I strive to be that presence for my students—the person who believes in them even when they are still learning to believe in themselves. 

There is a rhythm to my school day that stays with me. From the moment I walk through the doors in the morning until the moment I leave, the hallways are alive. Students are moving quickly, weaving through the building with purpose—coming in and out of my classroom, grabbing books, asking questions, seeking help, laughing, thinking, growing. My room is never just “my” room. It is a space they have claimed as their own. They know it is a place where they can find resources, support, and encouragement. That constant movement, that hustle and bustle, is not chaos—it is community in motion. It is proof that they trust this space. At Our Lady of Tepeyac, community builds strength, and strength builds future. 

And if there is one thing I hope my students leave my classroom knowing, it is this: being a woman is not something small to be managed or softened—it is a superpower. Their voices matter. Their stories matter. Their presence matters. They are not just future leaders. 

They are the leaders we need. 

They are leaders now.

Written by Ms. Jasmine Chacon, Faculty, Literature Teacher