Falcon Flashback: Ms.Natalia Chiapa ’00

Take a look into the high school days of one of CB’s very own English teachers. Ms. Natalia Chiapa ’00, a graduate of and now literature teacher at Christian Brothers, shared her experience at CB with the Talon and what brought her back to her alma mater. Although Ms. Chiapa had many unforgettable moments at CB, […]

Written by: Isabel Perrott - Talon People Reporter

2013/09/13 9:26 AM

Take a look into the high school days of one of CB’s very own English teachers.

Ms. Natalia Chiapa ’00, a graduate of and now literature teacher at Christian Brothers, shared her experience at CB with the Talon and what brought her back to her alma mater.

Although Ms. Chiapa had many unforgettable moments at CB, her most memorable memory was a run into Brother Kenneth during her freshman year.

“He seemed perplexed by the language the frosh used,” she said of her former intructor. “He was like ‘yeah’, and I was like ‘yeah’, and we were like ‘yeah’ in a very stoic face we all understood it but I think we all got to realizing how silly we actually sound.”

Ms. Chiapa, excited to attend CB after her brother graduated in 1993, didn’t hesitate when packing a punch to her schedule.

“[I was involved in] Choir all four years, volleyball my freshman year, theatre sophomore through senior year, [and] Lasallian Youth all four years.”

Ms. Chiapa’s senior portrait.

After high school, she remained involved in Lasallian Youth and then spent a year as a Lasallian volunteer in Tuscon, Arizona.

“It was by far the hardest thing I’d ever done,” stated the Literature teacher.

Although facing difficulties and hard decisions, Ms. Chiapa couldn’t be happier.

“When I went home, the opportunity of getting my teaching credential from St. Marys came about and all signs pointed to the fact that this was my path,” she says of her path back to CB. “I cried because the prospect was scary but here I am at CB, the place that has shaped me as a student and now as a teacher.”

Ms. Chiapas feels that her return to CB was “[a call] from God”.

Fortunately, for Ms. Chiapa , CB was in need of a part time art teacher as well as a student teacher for some English classes. This amazing opportunity provided the foundation for Ms. Chiapa’s teaching career and she has been a dedicated CB teacher ever since.

After completing her term at CB, Ms. Chiapa reveals some valuable advice for future students.

“Make as many friends as you can and stay connected to the brothers. That connection delivers you to so many places and fortunate circumstances.”