HoC: Sharon Alton
Humans of Chaffey
Photo courtesy of: Sharon Alton
Being able to create a way to say your opinions and allow your voice to be heard in an academic essay structure can seem like a challenge and possibly overwhelming, but luckily for the students of Chaffey, Sharon Alton is there to help. Alton is an Assistant Professor of English at Chaffey and thrives on helping students and giving them the voice to communicate in academia. This position, however, was not one that she envisioned herself gaining during her academic journey.
“In high school, I never thought that I was smart because I grew up in a culture that didn’t recognize and value smart women. I did not have any Chicana professors; I did not have anyone that looked like me. I was completely lost,” said Alton.
Although she was lost and was not sure of what she wanted to do, Alton was a very good writer. This would eventually lead to her getting a job as a writing tutor at Mt. San Antonio College, the college she was attending at the time. She worked her way up from writing tutor to embedded tutor, which is a tutor that works within the classroom under the instructor's guidance to help the students understand the material. She still was not sure, however, if she wanted to be a teacher until she had a realization. Alton states:
“I discovered that I really enjoyed helping students that were learning English as a second or third language.”
This would lead to Alton eventually tutoring a young woman from a small village in Korea, whose assignment was to write an essay about a feminist making a difference in the world. The young women did not quite understand the concept of feminism, however. Alton taught her more about feminism, and this allowed the student to realize that there were women fighting for her rights and that was the moment Alton knew she wanted to be a teacher.
“Not only did I have to teach people that there are plenty of others out there with the same experiences that are fighting for their rights, but I also need to equip them with the language necessary to fight for their own rights,” said Alton.
There can be many students that are often overwhelmed by college and can sometimes question whether it is right for them or if they even belong there in the first place. The best of students can have these doubts from time to time. Alton thrives on letting these students know that they do indeed belong there and that they can succeed. Alton states:
“There are many aspects of going to college that can be unfamiliar and scary, especially if you’re a first-generational college student. I tell students all the time that they’re okay and that they’re in the right place and for me, showing students that may not have mentors or may not have that person in their life that they can confide in, that their voices matter, that’s the driving force that motivates me to work every day.”
College can be where many students find themselves. It can not only be a place where they find out what they would like to do in life, but it can be where they overcome the odds stacked against them. Not every student has the same life, and some have more responsibilities and pressure placed on them. They have to find the ability to persevere and succeed in their classes, and this is something that Alton notices and reflects upon.
When asked if she has ever had a moment that changed her life or the way she views life, she said:
“I think those moments happen in the classroom. Where I see students, who have had life rough and did not think that they were smart, and then to see that student get an A at the end of the semester, that is the moment.”
Students in college learn so many different things considering the widespread of classes that are available to them. They take many different types of exams, quizzes, essays, and while Sharon assigns these things to her students, she sees a deeper meaning behind these types of assignments. Her style of teaching sets students up to learn and more importantly believe in a mindset: their voice matters.
When asked what she would want her students to walk away with from her class, Sharon said:
“I think that their voices in stories matter and that even if someone makes you feel that it doesn’t. That is on them. You matter, your voice matters, and your story needs to be heard. Imagine what society would look like if more people had that mentality and mindset. It would look a lot different in a good way.”
In a world that can seem too negative at some points, Sharon’s view on life and how she wants to help her students make their voice heard can be a refreshing way to view our own lives.