Marissa Patterson

| Political Chair 2001-2002 |

Class of 2002

Online teaching sucks. I’m not sure I’m supposed to say that, but I’ve always said I’d keep it real with my Katipunan family. So, this is me, keeping it real with you.
I have been an educator for 15 years. I have seen a lot, and experienced so many changes in the time I’ve been in the classroom. Educators are made of resilient stock, and we thrive in pressure situations. That’s part of the fun!
Students and classrooms are unpredictable, in the best way. A global pandemic is not something I ever actually imagined, but here we are. Publishing my entire curriculum online has been a challenge. Teaching my classes and my own eight-year-old son at home has been hard.
I miss seeing my students in person. My favorite thing about teaching is the connection I get to make with students. To see them learning, inquiring, laughing, debating, even fighting to stay awake… it is all part of sharing minutes and hours with each other.
The learning experience is so powerful, and I miss it. I am, however, so grateful to see faces on Zoom. It’s not where I want to be, but I’m glad I’m able to see students’ faces, even if it is virtually. I am grateful to see them because I worry about their social emotional wellness. I worry about their home lives. I worry about their access to education. I worry that they don’t know how much I care about them. I worry about THEM.
So it is with this energy, I strive to encourage each of you. I encourage you all to stay committed to your education. We, your teachers/professors/instructors, are doing our best because we believe in YOU. We believe in the power of education, and we believe we are in this together. Stay committed to the highest possible vision you’ve created for your life.
As we live out the legacy of our grandparents and parents, we must work to stay the course, even with the chaos around us. Whenever I start to feel discouraged or defeated, I think of the rich history of my own family. My Lola Paz was one of the first Asian women to be admitted to a graduate program at UCLA. She blazed this trail fearlessly, and proudly, so that I may follow her example.
What paths have been cleared for you to create your course? As we move into a month long celebration of our peoples’ history, perhaps we may reflect on whose legacy we honor, and the legacy we seek to create. We are in a virtual and literal storm, but we must stay strong. Your teachers have your back. Your fellow Katipuneros have your back. I have your back. Together we learn, we struggle, we love, we grow. Makibaka. Huwag matakot.
 
BIO:
Marissa was a member and Political Chair for Katipunan from 2001-2002. After graduating from UCR (BA, Ethnic Studies), Marissa completed graduate work at LMU, CSULA, & UCLA, earning masters degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Education. Marissa has been an educator for 15 years, and is currently an Ed. Specialist and English teacher in Claremont, CA, where she lives with her husband Andrew, and son Xavier.

Contact Info:
Email: Misa.patterson@gmail.com
IG: @misabellapatt
LinkedIn: Marissa M. Patterson