students posing for a group photo with Miss Washington Latina

Students at Sherwood Forest were inspired to be creators of their future world after a visit from Edith Gonzalez, the current Miss Washington Latina. Gonzalez shared her story with students in the dual language program and talked about how she was in the ELL (English Language Learners) program up until 10th grade.

She emphasized the importance of having goals in life, and invited the students to think about where they want to be in 5, 10 and 25 years. The students had the opportunity to take the microphone and share their goals. Some of them wanted to be soccer players, music teachers, singers, artists and engineers. Many of the students familiarized with her story of being the child of an immigrant family. Gonzalez made the students feel special and encouraged them to continue studying and embrace being bilingual.

Miss Washington Latina helping a student write out their goals

The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.