Get to Know: Ate Carla
We interviewed Ate Carla to really get to know them. Read along to find out more about Ate Carla.
Ate Carla (she/her)
Staff since September 2019
Elementary School Assistant Coordinator
“Growth is happening even when you don’t notice. So be patient and keep going.”
Dahil Sa Galing Bata …
Share the lessons learned and impact of Galing Bata on your life.
Ever since my family and I immigrated to the US, I’ve always struggled with this internal battle of not belonging anywhere. Around Filipino Americans or Americans in general, I never felt American enough, and even when my family and I would visit the Philippines, I started to feel like I wasn’t Filipino enough anymore. I was stuck between two worlds, never feeling like I truly belonged anywhere. This was until I found Galing Bata. Since finding Galing Bata, I feel the closest I have ever been to myself, my roots, and the Filipino language. Being around staff, students, and families with the same identities and experiences as me made me feel like I finally found a place where I did belong. Every day, I get to be the Ate I wish I had growing up in the US and the teacher I wish my parents were able to turn to, and that has been the most healing experience for my inner child, who was made to feel small for her tongue and her immigrant self.
Share one example of how you have seen Galing Bata’s “Gabay, Lingap at Bantay” in action. It could be during a time when you were a student, volunteer or staff.
This past GB Summer (2023), I remember supervising our students during outdoor play and was pleased to see our rising 5th graders at the top of the slide, ensuring the other students in the program were being safe, even offering giving them a push if they needed to. I would also hear younger students eagerly requesting certain Ate's or Kuya's (referring not to our staff but to the older students in our program) to be in their group for our fieldtrips. It made me realize how deeply embedded the values of Gabay, Lingap, Bantay are in our programming. It's modeled so well by staff and encouraged in our students that we take care of each other that you'll see our own students naturally being role models and Ate's/Kuya's to our younger students.
What is one wish you have for our students and families we serve?
My wish for our students and families is to always feel like they can walk with their chins up high and know that they have a voice. Are worth being heard and are worth being advocated for in any space they're in.
Share with us your favorite self-care or wellness activity that you practice.
Recently, my favorite thing has been taking a hot bath and putting on a good show to watch.
To really get a glimpse of who you are, what Filipino songs are you currently listening to?
Pwede Ba by Lola Amour, Padaba Taka by dwta, and Yakap sa Dilim by Orange & Lemons.