For new staff, coming to a new school can feel overwhelming and a bit nerve wracking. For Maria Anguiano on the other hand, her experience was quite the opposite. After graduating from Selma High, Maria has the opportunity to experience her high school years once again but in a new perspective.
After attending Fresno City for a year, Maria decided to return to Selma, working as a cafeteria assistant, for her two-year-old.
“When he’s in school, I’m in school. So we basically get to spend all our free time together!” Maria explained, beaming at the thought of being able to spend time with her son without the interruption of clashing schedules.
Upon arriving back to Selma and deciding to work on campus, Maria’s plan for the year is to “make it a good year & get to know a few students,” as well as become comfortable with her familiar surroundings once again.
“It makes my day to be able to get to know students & being able to say ‘Hi, how are you?’” Anguiano stated, cheerfully.
Despite expecting to come back to the same campus, a few minor changes surprised Maria.
“When I went to school here, we couldn’t get food from the snack bar for lunch & didn’t have second chance breakfast, so that’s different.” Maria remembered. Maria then explained that one of her reasons for returning was due to the familiarity & exciting student life Selma had to offer.
After having been asked, Maria expressed how the best part of Selma High is the warm, welcoming environment and being able to once again reconnect with former teachers.
Despite the nervousness of meeting the students here at Selma and the supposed horrors of working with high schoolers, Anguiano soon learned this claim seemed to be quite the shock.
“Honestly, I was a bit nervous because you never know what to expect when working at a high school, but the students here are super sweet. They’re very respectful, so I haven’t had a problem yet! Everyone also has manners, so I’m like, ‘Wow!’” Anguiano joyfully jokes.
Outside of working inside the school cafeteria, Anguiano enjoys being able to spend her free time with her son & get to bond with him through fun activities. She elaborated on how she, too, has taken interest in the things her son seems to enjoy, such as trampoline parks and even just regular outside parks. Anguiano also shared how she enjoys relishing being able to relive her own childhood through her son.
“While he’s having fun, there’s things he gets to do that I didn’t, so it’s all new for me, too,” she said.
Lastly, Anguiano shared a piece of advice that she felt anybody could take to heart & could even use later in life.
“My advice is, to anyone who is graduating soon or who is even just in high school, four years pass fast. Do something you love, whether it’s going to school or not after. So just enjoy time & always do what makes you happy!”
