Faculty FrontDoor

Diana Maria Antolinez

I am originally from Colombia, South America and relocated with my family to Orlando in December of 2000. The reason behind this drastric transplantation was the persecution my maternal family had endured for many generations under the hands of the FARC guerrilas. Even as a teenager, I saw the necessity for this move and supported my parents through our asylum petition that lasted nearly six years.



Before moving, I had already completed High school and promptly started college education at Valencia Community College. In all honesty, back then, I was unaware of the difference between a Community College and a University, yet I saw how fitting it was to start my undergraduate education at the West Campus since my family and I lived right accross the street.



Time at Valencia has been quite memorable. A high CPT score helped me be part of Valencia's Honors Program starting my first semester and thus completed an Honors Degree by the time of my graduation. It was also through the Honors program that I was granted a Transfer Scholarship to the University of South Florida in order to obtain a Bachelors in Science in Microbiology. I graduated from USF in 2006, and I am now pursuing a masters degree in medical sciences which I envision to complete in Fall of 2012.



My ambition is to become a full-time Mathematics instructor. I plan to achieve this by completing the required Mathematics coursework after obtaining my MMS. Even though I am excited to teach Trigonometry and Calculus in the future, I am passionate about developmental education and applying strategies to promote better learning. I am fascinated by the fact that "there is no one-way for teaching Math" (Dr. Paul Nolting) and how education is inherently a diverse discipline.



Finally, I believe that I have been placed at Valencia to give back where I have been given so much. Dr. Shugart, Valencia's president, professes that "everyone can learn under the right conditions" and I am a firm believer that Valencia provides those conditions for all. Thus, I am rewarded each semester when my students realize that Math is no longer an obstacle, but a challenge. It is then that they realize how there is no goal out of reach if you are willing to work hard to obtain it!