How Emerson Guerra is Creating Opportunity for Himself and for Others
Emerson Guerra immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala when he was just a young child nearly 30 years ago. Since then, he’s become a proud Rhode Islander, a father, a community college and technical institute graduate, a collision repair technician, and a teacher. Soon he’ll add a bachelor’s degree in Professional Studies to that list of accomplishments as well. His goal: to continue creating opportunities for himself while also helping others to do the same.
Guerra is a graduate of and now teacher at William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School in Lincoln, RI. He began his career as a collision repair technician, then returned to the school to teach the trade to others. It’s a job that he loves, but keeping it required that he return to school and earn a bachelor’s degree.
“I started looking around at colleges, but I didn’t really know what direction I wanted to go in,” Guerra says. “So I enrolled at CCRI [the Community College of Rhode Island] as a General Studies major. I knew I wanted to keep teaching but was also interested in working as an ESL [English as a Second Language] teacher, since I was an ESL student myself.”
Then he met Providence College School of Continuing Education (PCSCE) Assistant Dean Anne Nagle, who was at CCRI to talk with students about the community college-to-PC Guaranteed Admission and Tuition Assistance (GATA) Program, and his future direction was set.
“At that point I had no experience with PC other than following the College’s sports teams. So I sort of went into it blind, but it was probably the best decision I’ve ever made in my life,” he says. “As soon as I stepped on the PC campus, I felt like it was where I was supposed to be.”
While still a student at CCRI, Guerra was accepted into the GATA program. The program provides guaranteed admission and 33% off tuition at PC’s School of Continuing Education.
After earning his associate degree at CCRI, he enrolled in the Professional Studies degree program at PCSCE through the program. Guerra says that choice opened a whole new array of opportunities for him.
“With the Professional Studies degree I’m able to have a lot of flexibility in what I study, plus earn certificates along the way as well. I knew I wanted to learn more about how to be a great teacher, but at same time I saw the school also offered a legal studies certificate. I’ve always had a fascination with law and I find it so interesting to learn about the concepts behind the legal system and how they apply to everyday situations.”
So, he decided to pursue a certificate in Legal Studies in tandem with his Professional Studies degree. But his interests don’t end there.
“I’ve also really enjoyed the leadership courses I’ve taken, so that’s something I’m interested in also,” he says. “One of the first courses I took was a leadership course where we had to write about our values. I had never really taken the time to think about that but when I had to write it down, I realized that as a teacher I actually do put values out there to my students.”
“For me, the main values I try to live by are integrity and being honest. I tell my students they’re going to get the most truthful and honest answer from me and I expect the same from them in return. Ever since I’ve written those values down, I’ve been more consciously trying to live my life by that every day. That was a really valuable experience.”
“Thinking about my five- or ten-year plan, I know I want to keep teaching but if there’s ever a time when I can’t, then it’s nice to have other options available as well. I think this leadership knowledge gives me more opportunity to go back into my trade again as a manager or shop foreman if I need to down the road, but also those same skills can make me a better teacher right now and help me to be a better ESL teacher for students as well, which is something I know I’ll also want to do. When I finish this degree and the certificates I’ll have all those opportunities open to me.”
Creating those opportunities for himself – and becoming a better teacher who can also help to create opportunities for students – is something that Guerra says is well worth the effort he’s putting in. He also says that finding the right fit to fuel those efforts has been key.
“I really haven’t had any bad classes at PCSCE,” he says. “In every class, I’ve taken something away that was interesting and useful, and worth my while to go through. The classes are rigorous but they’re not overly difficult if you know how to manage your time.”
“Time management is something I try to tell my students is so important to learn. Once you figure that out, anything is possible. Even now, I’ll get up an hour earlier on the weekends and do my work so that I still have time with my son.”
“The community and support at SCE has been really helpful too. They’re great at communicating with their students and helping their students to communicate and form a community with each other as well. I know that if I need that extra support, I can count on SCE to help me out in whatever I need.”
As a teacher himself, Guerra says he’s especially appreciative of that ready support.
“That’s so important and it shows that they care about their students,” he says.
Related Resources
Guaranteed Admission & Tuition Assistance (GATA) Program
