TREC Champion, Ms. S.

We’d like to honor and highlight a Trauma-Resilient Educational Communities (TREC) Champion from throughout our network of Trauma-Resilient Professionals. Ms. S joined Learn4Life, an Accredited Trauma-Resilient Organization, in January 2013 and is a Math teacher. As the youngest child of thirteen children, Ms. S had a deep desire to help others and found tremendous joy in doing so. Her late mother used to say, “You never stop learning until you are put into the grave.” and Ms. S feels that teaching is a calling, not just a profession.

As a Chaldean-American, she came to the United States at the age of sixteen. Learning English was not an easy endeavor. After attending Patrick Henry High School, Grossmont Community College, and transferring to the University of California - San Diego, Ms. S. graduated in 2001. Obtaining her single subject teaching in math, Ms. S completed her master’s in Cross Cultural Studies from National University.

From the start, choosing to teach high school was very clear as Ms. S enjoys working with young people and all that it entails: teaching, coaching, mentoring, guiding, directing, and sharing some life experiences with them. Reflecting on the added benefit of working in an educational profession provides a unique opportunity to enjoy her family and loved ones during breaks and national holidays.

An early aspect of her career was taking part in the documentary Chaldean Voices and one of her students is one of the main individuals in the film. Ms. S shared, “This film made me realize the responsibility that I have as an educator coming from the same culture, but also it was wonderful to watch our students who were immigrants who lived in refugee camps are very resilient people.”

When the birth of TREC began over a decade ago at Diego Valley East, Ms. S was an ardent supporter who began implementing trauma-resilient strategies within her practices and strategies. Ms. S started formally leading Heart-Focused Breathing | HeartMath Institute during state testing over the last three years.

Facilitating one of TREC’s resiliency programs, Students Of Unity, Respect, Consciousness, and Energy (SOURCE), Ms. S. was inspired with the myriad soothing strategies and calming techniques, in addition to the student’s community service projects they complete.

Ms. S. started leading mindfulness practice strategies in the bay. Inviting both students and staff to experience the strategies together, she wanted to expand the scientifically-proven benefits on how intentional breathing improves our health, activates vitalizing hormones in our brain, reduces anxiety and soothes dysregulation.

Sharing how the Trauma-Resilient Professional (TRP) Certification provided the space for deep self-reflection on her own traumas and past experiences, in addition to the tools for clearer self-awareness, TREC provided actionable steps with her healing journey.

Ms. S. came to the realization of how to be healthy emotionally, physically, and spiritually in preparation for any future traumas or life challenges. As a Certified TRP, Ms. S. reflected on how her own Adverse Childhood Experiences impacted unwise decisions in her past and how unwise decisions were from her unhealed trauma. Now, with this knowledge, she’s feeling highly capable of responding better with anything she faces.

Striving to model resilience with her children, students, and anyone she works with, one year Ms. S. brought some markers and poster strips for her students with an invitation to make a sign that said “Giving up is NOT an option” for themselves to hang in their bedrooms.

Reflecting on how TREC has impacted her students, one year when the site had end of year deadlines, the Breathing in the Bay was stopped. Some students came up to Ms. S. and inquired why. Some Synthesis, Literacy, Art and Media (SLAM) students shared that breathing was very helpful to calm themselves before they performed. An especially meaningful interaction was from a student who used to overreact most of the time. She was working at that time, and she came up to me one day and said, “Ms. S., your breathing worked!  I had an incident at work, I used your technique, and it helped calm myself down.”

Ms. S. shared the evolution of her understanding of trauma and building resilience as a blessing and a curse. The blessings include being able to identify people’s needs and provide the appropriate help. Through practicing vulnerability, she relates to others who have similar experiences. Modeling resilience, Ms. S. supports others by letting them know they are not alone. Gaining this understanding gives her confidence and peace in how she handles tough situations.

At times, it can be a curse because it can be emotionally draining.  Being an empathic person draws a lot of people to her, which is not always easy to handle.  Also, there is a possibility that some people may abuse the information that is shared with them due to their own trauma.

Ms. S. reflected on her TREC evolution on how she learned to embrace all personalities, developed a deeper level of flexibility and to not be afraid to reach out to people in resolving certain issues when it is the right thing to do.

The TREC journey provides Ms. S. with great tools, results, and an invitation to become a healthier version of herself emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

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