Red Gold News

Members of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) had the opportunity to compete at the state level, gaining new experiences along the way.

Freshman teachers Brenda Trevino and Noel Martinez sponsored TAFE and played a key role in informing students about the organization and encouraging their participation.

“I learned about TAFE through Mrs. Trevino; she asked me to join,” said Julissa, a junior.

Trevino encouraged students to get involved, giving them the chance to try something new.

“I first learned about it through Mrs. Trevino; she motivated me and encouraged me to join,” said Dulce Hernandez, a sophomore.

Students competed against others from across Texas for a chance to advance in the competition.

“I was really stressed and didn’t know what was going to happen, but I just tried my best,” said Estrella Sanchez, a sophomore.

The statewide competition featured many participants, adding to the intensity.

“I think the most nerve-wracking part was not knowing who I was competing against. There were a lot of people—it was the whole state of Texas. So, I was nervous about how my achievements would compare to others,” said Lizbeth Martinez, a sophomore.

Many students had their own ways of managing nerves before competing.

“Practice is the best solution. Practicing helped me stay calm and gave me confidence that I was going to do okay,” Sanchez said.

Students took pride in the projects they worked on for months.

“When the judge was complimenting my work, I knew I had done something good. I spent months working on it, but I still wasn’t sure if it was my best. When the judge reassured me, I felt very proud,” Martinez said.

The experience also provided moments beyond competition.

“For my performance, I felt confident. I went around asking people if they would join me in my activity since some of my members were busy. I finally found a girl who helped me play a game. That was the moment I realized I didn’t have social anxiety. I felt proud because I had the confidence to ask people,” said Karen Cruz, a sophomore.

Throughout the competition, students gained new skills and refined them.

“I learned to be myself and make friends all the way from Dallas to Laredo. It was a great experience,” Martinez said.

The competition also helped them identify areas for improvement.

“I had to learn how to work with people. That’s definitely a skill I developed, and I need to keep working on it. During a group project, I realized I didn’t have the best collaboration skills, and that’s something I hope to improve,” Sanchez said.

Students who competed at state now share their experiences with those considering joining TAFE.

“If I had to give advice to first-time competitors, I’d say don’t use ‘umm’ when talking—it shows the judges you’re not prepared. Also, always look at the judges. If you’re not looking at them and looking around, it seems like you’re not engaged,” said Deyla Rogero, a sophomore.

The competition was held in Galveston, giving students and teachers a chance to balance work and fun.

“I think it was divided. We didn’t just do the event. We did our competition first, then went to an event afterward,” Martinez said.

Students also learned time management.

“I had three events, so my time was balanced between doing fun activities, going on trips, and preparing for my speech and teacher materials,” Sanchez said.

The experience provided insight into the education field.

“This trip showed me that educators go through a lot, and unexpected situations can happen at any time. It’s important to be prepared,” Sanchez said.