教师重点 for December 2022: Mrs. Laura (Enriquez) Bertalmio '08

磅: I earned my bachelor’s from Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT), where I majored in English literature and minored in psychology. Then I attended National Louis University to earn my M.A.T. (Master’s of Art in Teaching). Additionally, I studied writing, directing and acting for the camera at Second City and was a member of a Second City “writer’s room.”

磅: 我是一名教育家、作家和演说家。 我的职业生涯是从一所特许学校教写作开始的，在那里我还担任过英语系主席的职位。 From there, I  was fortunate to join Nazareth Academy’s English Department [in La Grange Park, IL]. 我教英语一级和世界文学，也教辩论队。 

In 2020, I took a hiatus from the classroom and published my 最畅销的小说, 恶魔。 Through its success, I was able to gain partnerships and speaking opportunities with several organizations, including: AAU Sports, Boys & Girls Club of America, and Girls, Inc. My most popular speech was titled “Maintaining Grit Through Adversity.” 我特别喜欢在课堂外与学生交谈和合作，以培养他们的性格特征。 

磅: 无情的 蒂姆·格罗弗著。 除了经典，我还喜欢塑造人物的书籍、传记和历史文献。 I am also an avid 国家地理 fan!

磅: 我非常喜欢写作，目前正在编辑我的剧本，希望我的书能被改编成电影。 Additionally, I love being in the kitchen -- whether that’s cooking or baking. 我最近把对美食的热爱和写作结合起来，开了一个美食博客。 I’m also interested in hiking/camping and have proudly hiked almost 20 National Parks.

磅: 在足球买球APP（2008届），我参加了辩论队，参加了林肯-道格拉斯与公共论坛。 我参加了三次州锦标赛（伊利诺伊州布卢明顿）和一次全国锦标赛（德克萨斯州休斯顿）的资格和辩论。 此外，我还参加了校垒球和艺术俱乐部。

In college, I played club softball for two years and women’s rugby for one. 我打了一辈子垒球，知道大学毕业后可以参加成人联赛，所以我对打橄榄球的机会很感兴趣。 在上大学之前，我从未听说过这项运动，但一旦我参加了一场比赛，我就知道我想要有这样的经历。 It didn’t disappoint! Playing rugby pushed my physical limits and had a comradery that is unlike any other sport I’ve played. 我还在仁人家园和感受温暖汤厨房做志愿者。 

磅: 我目前正在调节 广播俱乐部!

磅: 买球APP的学生有竞争力，成绩优异，全面发展。 这里的许多学生通过参与多种运动/俱乐部展示了这些品质。

磅: 本科毕业后，我正准备参加法学院入学考试（LSAT）并申请法学院。 在大考之前，我去了趟欧洲。 I was sitting in a pub in London reading 《双城记 since I was heading to France soon. 当我在那里的时候，一个来自澳大利亚的男人走近我，询问我的书。 从那以后，我们聊了三个小时文学。

I couldn’t get over how incredible it was to have met a stranger from across the world and still have a deep conversation about books and what they say about us as humans. We even exchanged books -- I gave him mine and he gave me his: 动物农场。 I realized at that moment how passionate I was about literature. When I returned from my trip, I canceled my LSAT test and signed up for a program to earn my Master’s in teaching. 

磅: 我是一个非常有条理的人，这在课堂上帮助很大。 我教我的学生组织的重要性，通过他们如何处理家庭作业，记笔记和管理截止日期。 我也认为我积极的态度和善良有助于教学。 One of my favorite quotes is, “In a world where you can be anything, simply choose to be kind.”

磅: I’ve enjoyed teaching British Literature and World Literature. 我喜欢这些科目的原因是通过文本可以了解人类和不同的文化以及文化多元主义。 我也喜欢隐含典故的深度和层次。 

磅: 我在教学中最大的成功体现在我与学生的关系上。 即使学生不喜欢英语作为一门学科，我仍然发现学生喜欢上我的课或找到积极的收获。 Also, a mark of success is when students who are struggling feel comfortable seeking additional help -- whether it’s academic or personal. 当学生们把我当作他们的拥护者时，我觉得很有收获。

磅: 学生们面临的最大挑战之一是应对心理健康问题。 我觉得社交媒体激起了青少年的焦虑。 Now, students have an even more unrealistic image of “what should be” rather than being okay with what is. I think this can toll on students’ mental well being of always wanting to compare themselves to something that is unrealistic or unattainable. 此外，我认为施加在学生身上的压力会导致抑郁和焦虑的感觉。