"Never give up, never give in, and Keep on
Fighting to make the best life possible, While
always giving others a chance to do the same."
- Me (Jaclyn Sicilia)
If you ask me how I went from a four-time college drop out and a person who could not hold a job to a "Most Outstanding Student" and high school teacher and mentor, I would tell you it took the power of one thing: Choice.
The day I realized that no one stood in my way except myself, I began to change my life. I made a conscious choice to stop making excuses and to start taking accountability for my life. I chose to persist towards my goals without any exceptions. In the past, I allowed my circumstances to dictate my state of being. Now, I choose for my state of being to dictate my circumstances.
Everything in life is a choice. Four years ago this past September, I chose to go back to college and continue my education. I chose to give the majority of my time and effort to succeeding in the classroom. I chose not to allow any negative outside sources to influence my state of being. I chose to focus on the present instead of the past. I chose to live a life of persistence without exception and to keep on no matter what. I chose to overcome any obstacle that might present itself to reach my ultimate goal: Teaching young adults and instilling in them the importance of education, assisting them in achieving their goals, and always believing in them so they may realize their full potential.
Two years ago, I received my associate degree in secondary education from the College of Southern Nevada. One of my former professors and mentors called me shortly thereafter to inform me that I received the "Most Outstanding Student of the Year" award at the college. On May 4th, 2012, I attended a ceremony and reception honoring my achievements, because I chose to go back to college and continue my education. I chose to give the majority of my time and energy to succeeding in the classroom. I chose not to allow any negative outside sources to influence my state of being. I chose to focus on the present instead of the past. I chose to live a life of persistence without exception and to keep on no matter what. I chose to overcome any obstacle that might present itself to reach my ultimate goal.
Currently, I teach and tutor English part time in the Clark County School District and attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) full time, where I am working toward a master's degree in journalism and media studies (my other passion besides teaching). I also work weekly with the members of Freedom Fighters, which is the after-school program I created and developed for female high school students. I assist them in building social and cultural awareness, achieving academic and personal goals, and preparing to attend and graduate from college. During my free time, I enjoy exploring all of the wonderful elements of nature that Nevada has to offer, traveling both within and outside of the United States, embarking on long road trips that always lead to unexpected discoveries, and spending time in, on, and around any body of water - especially Lake Mead, where my boys plead with me to take them on the weekends.
The day I realized that no one stood in my way except myself, I began to change my life. I made a conscious choice to stop making excuses and to start taking accountability for my life. I chose to persist towards my goals without any exceptions. In the past, I allowed my circumstances to dictate my state of being. Now, I choose for my state of being to dictate my circumstances.
Everything in life is a choice. Four years ago this past September, I chose to go back to college and continue my education. I chose to give the majority of my time and effort to succeeding in the classroom. I chose not to allow any negative outside sources to influence my state of being. I chose to focus on the present instead of the past. I chose to live a life of persistence without exception and to keep on no matter what. I chose to overcome any obstacle that might present itself to reach my ultimate goal: Teaching young adults and instilling in them the importance of education, assisting them in achieving their goals, and always believing in them so they may realize their full potential.
Two years ago, I received my associate degree in secondary education from the College of Southern Nevada. One of my former professors and mentors called me shortly thereafter to inform me that I received the "Most Outstanding Student of the Year" award at the college. On May 4th, 2012, I attended a ceremony and reception honoring my achievements, because I chose to go back to college and continue my education. I chose to give the majority of my time and energy to succeeding in the classroom. I chose not to allow any negative outside sources to influence my state of being. I chose to focus on the present instead of the past. I chose to live a life of persistence without exception and to keep on no matter what. I chose to overcome any obstacle that might present itself to reach my ultimate goal.
Currently, I teach and tutor English part time in the Clark County School District and attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) full time, where I am working toward a master's degree in journalism and media studies (my other passion besides teaching). I also work weekly with the members of Freedom Fighters, which is the after-school program I created and developed for female high school students. I assist them in building social and cultural awareness, achieving academic and personal goals, and preparing to attend and graduate from college. During my free time, I enjoy exploring all of the wonderful elements of nature that Nevada has to offer, traveling both within and outside of the United States, embarking on long road trips that always lead to unexpected discoveries, and spending time in, on, and around any body of water - especially Lake Mead, where my boys plead with me to take them on the weekends.