Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Leos.
Hi Crystal, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Writing has always been a part of me. Whether it was scribbling in notebooks or mapping out my next journal entry–I kept at it. Eventually, I learned early on in my college career that writing would not make me the necessary economic means that I needed to support children or a family. So, I turned to teaching. Teaching has been a huge part of me since I come from a family with many in the educational realm. After publishing my first poetry book, I took the chance and continued with writing. I pushed to finish a second master’s degree for that reason–to finish my memoir. Now, here we are: two master’s degrees and an educator that teaches at the high school and collegiate level.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth road? Do you know how Houston is? HA! Jokes aside, nothing is ever a smooth road. If anything things always get harder when you are on the path to success. As my grandma says, “Si no sigues adelante, te quedas atras!” which translates to, “If you do not strive to do better for yourself you will be left behind.” I learned this far too early in life. I was a teen mother at seventeen and the ‘single mom’ life really put it in perspective for me–I knew I had to do better for the future of my child.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in a multitude of things, but the most prominent would have to be teaching at the surface level. By that I mean I teach various topics: poetry mainly; however, I teach high school and at a local community college in the greater Houston area. I am most proud of sticking to my educational career for 13 years straight, and still having the motivational outlook to pursue a doctoral degree. I believe that having an empathetic heart and a curious mind is what sets me apart from the average person. When I am in the classroom, I am also learning with my students, but I am also sharing my own experiences with them as learning experience.
What were you like growing up?
Two words: Black Sheep. Like most black sheep of the family we pave the way for new opportunities and oftentimes, we break many of the systematic generational cycles that overshadow us.
Pricing:
- 15.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://crysreyes09.wixsite.com/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/Crisreyeswrites
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-leos-m-a-mfa-950320203/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=hhJqWPW-wFddocuteozcLw
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Wildflower-Blooming-Crystal-Reyes-Lozano/dp/B0D494Q2LY/
