Vanessa Costas

ELED Ambassador Spotlight Questions

Where are you from?

Lorton, Virginia

Why did you decide to become an elementary teacher?

My passion to become an elementary school teacher began when I was just starting kindergarten. This is when my parents decided to open their at-home daycare. From then on, I was given the great opportunity to contribute to the family business through teaching, leading, and hands-on experience with children of all ages. I absolutely fell in love with teaching.

Why did you choose to study Elementary Education at Mason?

I specifically chose to study elementary education because I want to give students the strong educational foundation they need for the rest of their lives. I have too often seen students struggle in their academics due to a lack of support or compassion to learn. I believe I can connect with students in a way where they feel comfortable and safe enough to enjoy their learning and excel in everything they do. After all, elementary education is where students build essential skills, knowledge, and a love for learning that will stay with them throughout their entire educational journey.

What advice would you give to the students who are just starting the ELED program?

Embrace it and give it your all. In ELED, everything you do is going to have an interactive component attached to it. You need to start building those meaningful connections as soon as possible to fully understand it all and see important issues from a different perspective.

Where do you see yourself in your career 10 years from now?

I envision myself dedicating my skills and passion into shaping young minds as an exceptional teacher. I look forward to someday creating a nurturing and inspiring classroom environment. Ten years from now, I will be empowering students to reach their full potential and positively contribute to society. Teaching is not just a profession to me, but a lifelong commitment to shaping future generations.