PROFILE - Alexa Robles-Gil

Nombre completo: Alexa Robles-Gil Luna

Año de graduación del JFK: 2017

Licenciatura y Universidad en la que estudió: Licenciatura en Biología, Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP).

What are you currently working on?

I currently work on conservation projects and write for the Chilean Magazine called Endémico where I reflect on environmental questions.

How did you discover your passion for biology?

I discovered my passion for biology through a lot of contact with nature. My family has always loved camping and taking trips that involved outdoor activities. Since then, I always wanted to study something related and to be able to explore my interest in the natural world. I have always found more questions than answers, and I believe that following that curiosity has led me to this point.

What is the importance of your work for the care of the environment?

The importance of my work, mainly writing and reporting on wildlife conservation, focuses on transmitting the message about taking care of spaces that other creatures inhabit. Try to involve and raise awareness of our environment and who we share it with. I search for the intersection between science and writing in order to form a bridge between us and the natural world.

How did your experience at JFK prepare you to achieve your career and life goals?

My experience at JFK helped me form a lot of academic character: crucial to a science career. It challenged me and made me a better student. I believe that in High School I developed a good academic base that helped me a lot in my university career. But more than that, my decision to study biology was thanks to the teachers who listened to me and resolved my doubts, as well as my classmates, with whom I had endless conversations about our objectives and goals.

What do you like most about your job/ profession?

What I like most about my job is the opportunity to be in the field. I love everything that involves contact with nature, and I like to feel that what I do has a purpose. I like to be immersed and present in what I do.

What projects do you have in the future?

My most important future project is the start of my master’s degree at New York University (NYU) in September for the Master of Science Journalism.

What would you say to High School students?

Don’t worry if you don’t have everything figured out; things settle down over time. Periods of a lot of work always end up paying off. And finally, absorb everything you experience at this stage, pursue your interests and always bet on your growth as a person.

Interview: Cristina Vergara

Emma Gutierrez Award Winner, 2023

Miss Cristina Vergara, coordinator of the Science department at JFK High School, was recognized with this year’s Emma Gutierrez Award, which is awarded annually by ASOMEX (Association of American Schools in Mexico), to recognize women’s leadership in education with a $4,000 scholarship for PD training.

“I applied because I would like to continue working on significant projects for my community, and I believe that, if I am awarded this scholarship, I will be able to learn where the future of education is going and share it with all members of that community”, says Cris.

Miss Cris studied Biology with a specialty in Marine Ecology. She later studied for a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Framingham and has 12 years of experience as a teacher, 10 of which she has worked at JFK.

“It seemed like a very distant goal and just having been chosen to represent the school, for me it was already an honor that I had managed to obtain, but knowing that my profile was unanimously chosen to receive this scholarship is incredible. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to represent the school, to bring that award to everyone because I believe it represents the capabilities and scope that anyone who works at this school can achieve. Because the school makes it easy. So, if you choose this path, surely there will be opportunities where you can stand out, as it happened to me, so I am very grateful to the school, very happy, it is an achievement of almost a decade of work.”

Cris will officially receive the recognition at the Tri Association Educators’ Conference that will take place in Bogotá. Colombia in the month of October, where in addition, she will participate as a speaker, with the theme “Classroom, movement and real life” in co-teaching with Professor Rafael Díaz.

Later, Cristina will attend the leadership training that will take place in Rome in June, in the summer of 2024. “Thanks to this award, I think I can contribute to improving our vision, our perspectives on where we have to focus our energy and continue walking towards something that can always put our school at the forefront and with a globally competitive educational and international offer for our students.”

My experience at JFK helped me form a lot of academic character: crucial to a science career. It challenged me and made me a better student. I believe that in High School I developed a good academic base that helped me a lot in my university career. But more than that, my decision to study biology was thanks to the teachers who listened to me and resolved my doubts, as well as my classmates, with whom I had endless conversations about our objectives and goals.