Whenever you go into a new school year, you hope for nice and understanding teachers. This year, we have plenty, including Ms. Adina. Ms. Adina is a 9th grade English teacher and also teaches The Bruin Banner and Intro to Journalism. Many students enjoy having Ms. Adina as a teacher, as she is more like a sister to them. According to Ms. Adina, “I think I have a good relationship with students and interact with them like a big sister would. I set boundaries and am stern when I need to be, but I also roast them and laugh with them.” Ms. Adina knows how to joke around with a student while also helping them to finish their work.
Ms. Adina really enjoys her job and has wanted to be a teacher most of her life. “I remember wanting to be a teacher when I was in elementary school. My mom bought me a whiteboard (which I actually still use in my classroom today), and I would put my pillows on the bed and my stuffed animals behind the pillows, as if they were sitting at desks, and I would teach them math and read to them.”
If you have never met Ms. Adina, you might think that she’s just a fun teacher. Not only is she a fun teacher, but she is also supportive and very encouraging. Jayden Garcia Inciong, a sophomore student, stated that “Ms. Adina’s class was the class that I looked forward to the most, because not only did I have so much fun in that class, but I also loved the teacher and the people. Her class was just amazing, and it felt like a very safe place to be because Ms. Adina is a no-judgment teacher, and it was pretty iconic.” Ms. Adina wasn’t just a teacher to most students. She was like their best friend who encourages others and inspires students.
Garcia Inciong said that Ms. Adina inspired her in multiple ways, such as inspiring her to be accepting of others. Maddy Gustafson, a past student in Ms. Adina’s freshman English class, stated that Ms. Adina was definitely one of her top teachers of all time. Gustafson mentioned, “Ms. Adina inspired me to always look for a smile and laugh, and showed me a new perspective in literature!” Ms. Adina is an overall fun and bubbly person. Sometimes, while you talk to her, you forget that you are talking to a teacher. You would feel like you are talking to your best friend.
Whenever you talk to Ms. Adina, you will know that she is the person to trust. Ms. Adina has not only taught students about English, but has taught students to be themselves, and has taught them more about themselves. Gustafson said, “Ms. Adina helped me learn that I am more stubborn than I thought, and that I am smarter than I think I am.” Garcia Inciong also figured out things about herself only after speaking to Ms. Adina. “Ms. Adina is someone who just has this charm and this brightness. It’s like she wants everyone to learn stuff and everyone to feel like a safe space coming into her class.” Garcia Inciong and Gustafson show that Adina leaves a lasting impact on students’ lives beyond the classroom, making her a favorite teacher among Bruins.
