Back to School: Rosalinda Olivares

Rosalinda Olivares said she has not had much free time the last couple of years.

But she said she is ready to delve back into her interests in local theater and working with students in extracurricular ventures at Los Fresnos High School, where she teaches pre-advanced placement world history and advanced placement European history.

Since fall 2006, Olivares, 51, had taken classes year-round at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College to earn a master of arts degree in history. She is one of three graduates earning the degree at UTB/TSC's 14th Winter Commencement on Saturday.

"I'll continue teaching in the public school system at the high school level," Olivares said. "Maybe I'd consider teaching as an adjunct or maybe getting involved in dual enrollment."

Olivares earned her undergraduate degree in history in the 1980s at what was then Texas Southmost College. She always thought earning a master's would bring a sense of completeness to her educational and professional life.

"I had been out of school for some time," she said about venturing back to campus. "After I received my bachelor's I decided that I needed to take a break. I was working full time, had a small child at home."

Olivares said she had to adapt to new technology, like the online Blackboard system and online registration, and to writing research papers again.

"The professors were a little bit older back then," Olivares said with a laugh. "I think the coursework (now) has become a bit more challenging - not that our professors as undergraduates weren't challenging - but they have raised the standards."

She taught 15 years in the Brownsville Independent School District before moving to Los Fresnos High School five years ago where she is the National Honor Society sponsor.

"What I want to do is create a well rounded individual," she said about her students. "I want them to learn a little about everything as far as cultural aspects are concerned. If they are anywhere, they can recognize a Da Vinci painting, or tell this is an ionic column versus a doric column, or this is a piece by Mozart."

Perry is an informational writer at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College Office of News and Information.
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