Ms. America Leon is our new USC College Advisor from East Los Angeles. In her spare time, she binge-watches any series or movies she is interested in. She also has her own small jewelry design business, which includes earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and keychains. She does not have an official store but sells her things through Etsy and other vendors. Ms. Leon finds this interest to be a source of comfort for her when she is stressed.
This is Mr. Leon’s first year as an official college adviser at Glendale High School. She only graduated from
college a year ago, yet she has already changed the lives of other students. Before coming to GHS, she was and continues to be a part of the College Advising Corps, which allowed her to work here.
Her goal as a college advisor is to reach out and meet with every senior on our campus, and she hopes to lead the
on the right path toward their objectives and where they wish to begin their lives. Remember, she is the only college advisor and has to deal with 500 seniors, so she has a lot on her plate. However, she is not giving up and will succeed in meeting everyone. Ms. Leon explained that, while her primary goal is to connect with her seniors and assist them in any way she can, her door is always open to students of all grades.
Ms. Leon has a two-year contract as an advisor at GHS, so she wants to avoid giving the impression that she will be here permanently, as she is still exploring to see where life takes her. She is here primarily because of her youthfulness and personality, and the administration at USC believes that her character attributes will be a good fit for kids in need.
Ms. Leon is the first person in her family to graduate from college, having earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Merced. Unfortunately, she didn’t receive any advice to help her navigate life beyond high school. Nonetheless, her parents and sister were supportive and thrilled for her.
In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree in sociology, Ms. Leon also pursued a minor in writing studies. She was involved in a school-based non-profit group that helped students with their writing skills. She was also available to aid students with their college applications, particularly their essays. While attending UC Merced, Ms. Leon didn’t have a specific job goal in mind, but her major aim was to assist kids struggling to figure out their future lives.
Ms. Leon has yet to face any challenges with any students, given that this is her first year and the start of the school year. The only issue she has had so far was with a kid who did not meet the A-G college requirements; she was disappointed in him, but she did not give up on him or his aspirations.
She stands by her belief that “as long as you get to where you want to go and set a goal for yourself and you get there, it doesn’t matter what path you take, as long you get there.”
Ms. Leon believes that starting a fundamental conversation with her kids is the best way to begin, trying to figure out who they are, and who they want to be. Making these connections will help to create trusting relationships, which is what Ms. Leon desires.
Starting as a freshman and gaining an understanding of what you want to pursue is a great decision. Ms. Leon feels that you should take courses that will help you in
your chosen field. She believes that for younger children, it is not necessary to find out what they want to accomplish, but it may be a good idea because it will affect their interests and experiences at school.
Ms. Leon explained that there have been times when a few students have come into her room stressed about their life after high school and not knowing what to do after graduation. But even though she has graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree, and is a college advisor, Ms. Leon still doesn’t know what she wants to do in life. College is where you can explore, take lessons, and begin to develop your interests in various fields, and it’s okay if you don’t know which career path you want to take right away.
Ms. Leon is currently deciding whether she wants to pursue this career permanently or only temporarily. She enjoys working with students, particularly when it comes to decision-making, as a college advisor. However, she has not made any concrete decisions on where her life will take her.
If any Nitro students are in need or have concerns regarding their career or college goals, please stop by Ms. Leon’s Room 4115 during snack and lunch. Before you visit her classroom, scan the QR code on her door to set up a one-on-one appointment with her.
Start planning your future today, Nitros!
