POINTS EARNED
Claire's Charitable Life
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HOME: United States
PERSONAL WEBSITE: GOOD is Claire Matienzo
ROCK PAPER OR SCISSORS: Paper
I grew up in Chicago, just seven miles from the downtown skyline. I was one of those kids that carried a house key in my backpack, just in case I had to let myself into the house after school while my parents were still at work. I was no stranger to having to cook and clean for myself while completing my homework every night—most of the time in front of the television set. Sometimes I like to imagine how my childhood would have been different if I had a program like City Year and a near peer role model in my life while I was still in school.
I began my City Year experience two years ago when I moved to the heart of downtown Los Angeles with two suitcases and a mindset that I was ready to make a difference in the lives of students in under served communities. I was given the opportunity to serve in an elementary school located in the Westlake district, just northeast of downtown, bordered by the intersection of the Santa Monica and Harbor Freeways. With minimal exposure to downtown Los Angeles, I honestly did not know quite what to expect.
I have spent the last six years of my life as an Angelino. I earned my BA in art history from UCLA in 2007 so I can name all sorts of obscure facts about different artists from all different time periods. I was accepted into City Year in 2008, and moved to the side of Los Angeles where the electric wires run wild amidst the neverending skyline. I am currently knees deep in my second term as a whole school, whole child team leader, in Westlake. My future ambitions include, but are not limited to: moving to southern China in the Fall and using the experience I learned during my corps years to teach English as a foreign language internationally.
WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR ME:
Because I have been to Awesome Town and back!!
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Here's a February vote for you! Keep up all of the amazing work!! :)