As a Spanish teacher at Milford High School, Alejandro Ruelas, ’12, sees his role as not only instructing students but inspiring them to learn and helping them address the challenges they face outside the classroom.
“I am always interested in how to incorporate social justice issues into my classes,” Mr. Ruelas said, “how I can empower my students through my lessons.”
Recently, the Milford resident got some welcome affirmation for his talents and ideals when he applied to masters in education programs at five universities, and all five – Harvard University, Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern University, and Clark University – accepted him with generous financial aid offers. He ultimately chose B.C.
“I’m very grateful and very humbled. I never would have expected to get into all of them,” said Mr. Ruelas. “It was nice to have the luxury to choose from among such great programs.”
A California-born son of Mexican immigrants, Mr. Ruelas moved with his family to Milford as a youth, graduating from the town’s high school. He credits BSU, where he majored in Spanish and minored in Latin American Studies, with preparing him well for his career.
The diverse array of courses he took “widened my horizons and deepened my understanding of my own concentration,” Mr. Ruelas said, also citing as helpful his easy access to faculty and his experiences participating in such groups as the Social Justice League.
After college, Mr. Ruelas taught English at a private language academy and at an international school in Vietnam. Back home, he took courses at Bentley University in “user experience” design, seeing the emerging field as a possible alternative career path.
That led to his hiring by Bentley as a consultant to its affiliated after-school programs. Mr. Ruelas said the experience working with students again convinced him to return to teaching.
“I found I was happiest when I was with the kids so I decided I really wanted to go back to the classroom,” he said. (Photo by Danielle Robidoux)