David Lopez
Teach For America
San Diego, CA USA
"Once you establish a belief in something that you really, really think is important, you stick to it. Because if you're not believing, others aren't going to follow your footsteps."
Career Roadmap
David's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
San Diego Mesa College
Bachelor's Degree
Management Science
University of California-San Diego
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Son of two Mexican immigrants and had trouble learning English.
2.
Almost dropped out of his public middle school after failing seventh and eighth grade.
3.
Instead, transferred to a charter school, where he found new mentors, a new love for learning.
4.
Found financial success in sales and marketing, but says those gains felt "hollow."
5.
Returned to school to earn his Bachelor's degree from UCSD with the goal of transitioning into nonprofit work.
6.
Joined Teach For America after realizing he was in the minority of low-income students who graduate college-wanted to give back.
7.
Started his branch of the nonprofit in the hopes of giving everyone in San Diego access to a good education.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My first language is spanish. I had to learn english as a young kid and it wasn't easy. I was a struggling english learner. Flunked 7th and 8th grade. I knew I had to do something different.