Get to know Alexander Lorenzo-Cruz | 1st Year Penn Fellow
Here are 3 questions to get to know him better:
- What inspired you to pursue a Master’s in Education, and how do you hope it will shape your future career goals?
I had the privilege of attending private school at such a young age. Throughout my years attending these institutions, I had few to no faculty members of color to whom I could talk and share what I was going through. One of the reasons for pursuing a Master’s in Education was to be a role model and serve as that representation for students of color attending these institutions while sharing my background and experiences with the rest of the student body. Being a native Spanish speaker and having to translate documents and conversations with both of my parents, who did not speak any English at all, also pushes me to teach the beautiful Spanish language as I hope students develop this second language and can help people in their own future career paths with individuals who may not speak or understand the English language.
- Reflecting on your time as a Penn Fellow, what has been the most transformative experience in your journey, and how has it shaped your approach to teaching and leadership in education?
Penn Weekends, where all Penn Fellows gather from different institutions, has been transformative because it gives me an opportunity to learn from educators who are just beginning their journey in education while at the same time allowing me to engage in deep conversations on how we can implement new research and strategies into our teaching pedagogy. I am able to not only reflect and analyze my classroom teaching but also exchange strategies and ideas within my program to strengthen and evolve my teaching in education.
- What unique opportunities have you had as a Penn Fellow to apply your coursework and training in real-world educational settings? How does it impact your role in educating girls to become the future leaders of tomorrow?
As a Spanish teacher, teaching foundational courses doesn’t only require students to learn grammar and vocabulary, but I believe culture is a crucial component in language learning. Learning the language and various cultures and misconceptions surrounding different countries informs and exposes students to learning different aspects of the Spanish language. Through project-based learning, I can have students research and learn on their own about different cultures and traditions while learning how to communicate in Spanish.