Category: Staff Profile

 “While I was flying over to America from the Philippines, I was discombobulated. At some point, I wanted to go back home, but I thought of all the sacrifices that led me to where I stand. I just closed my weary eyes and prayed for the best of what’s waiting for me in the ‘Land of Milk and Honey,'” said Bangsalud.

Fel Bangsalud shares her story about her professional achievement and the transition from her Philippine to American citizenship. Bangsalud serves as Jimmy Carter Early College High School’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher.

“AVID is a class that helps to close the achievement gap by preparing students for college readiness and be successful in society,” she said.

Bangsalud arrived in the United States in August 2002, hoping to become more professionally accomplished and earn more money.  However, it took a lot of relinquishing from her part to successfully come to America. 

“It was an extensive wait for the processing of papers, and it was also expensive. My mother had to lend me her retirement money, which I would later pay once I was stable, and my husband had to sell one of his properties,” she stated. “My family was not with me for nine months since they had to wait for their visas. It was burdensome, but the challenging part was leaving my young children behind.”