USD-Magazine-Summer-2023

COURTESY OF JESSICA GARCIA

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Counseling student still learning at her high school alma mater by Matthew Piechalak J BACK TO HER BEGINNINGS

Mexican-Americans who understand the difficulties that English learners face in school. Escobar came to San Marcos High while Garcia was a junior, and guided her through the college application process. “He was there to support me and help me seek out different leadership opportunities,” Garcia says. Garcia attended school in the San Marcos Unified School District from kindergarten through high school. Both her parents emigrated to Southern California from Oaxaca, Mexico. Agricultural farm workers, they only had education through middle school. “Education is something they really instilled in me,” Garcia says.

essica Garcia felt a deep sense of nostalgia as she walked back into her high school for the first time in years — a full circle moment that she continues to relive each school day as she reports to her practicum site. “I can’t believe where I am now,” says Garcia, a 2016 San Marcos High School graduate, currently earning a Master of Arts degree in school counseling at USD’s School of Leadership

felt that she wanted to pursue the profession,” says Escobar, a counselor at San Marcos High for eight years. School counselors deal with every situation that comes through their doors. “The ultimate goal is to help students navigate the educational system and to have better opportunities upon graduation,” he says. The two have a lot in common. Both identify as first-generation

and Education Sciences. She’s also completing a yearlong internship under the tutelage of her former high school counselor, Ruben Escobar. Now, he’s teaching Garcia what it takes to be a successful, caring and empathetic school counselor. “It was an honor that one of my own students felt we had a connection that was above and beyond — that it left a positive impact on her to where she

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