by: Luis Hernandez, Managing Editor

This year St. John Bosco High School welcomed a new Academic Advisor for SJB Global, Mrs. Gina Sterling, who wants to support and encourage students in their studies.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: I grew up in Park City, Utah, a little ski town in the Rocky Mountains. 

Q: What high school did you attend?

A: I went to Park City High school, and my graduating class was about 300 people. Everyone knew each other. 

Q: What college did you attend?

A: I went to the University of Utah (Go Utes!), but I also studied literature at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland for a year. 

Q: How did you discover Bosco and why did you choose to work here?

A: When I was visiting Park City for Christmas, I was catching up with my old deacon after Mass. When I told him I had recently moved to Bellflower, he said, “That’s where I went to school! St. John Bosco! You should work there.” 

Q: Did you have any teaching experience before working at Bosco?

A: My first teaching experience was in the jungle in Peru on a humanitarian trip when I was 16. Later, I did student teaching when I received my teaching minor during college. I taught at a boarding school for girls in Oxford, England, and I worked as a supervising coordinator for an after-school program in Pomona. 

Q: What is your role at Bosco?

A: I am an Academic Advisor for SJB Global. 

Q: What is your favorite part of teaching?

A: It’s inspiring to see you boys work hard and gain new knowledge and skills. 

Q: How long have you been a teacher?

A: I’ve worked as a teacher for a couple years, on and off. But in some ways, I’ve been a teacher since my younger brother was born. 

Q: How have you liked the school and the environment so far?

A: Of all the schools at which I’ve worked, Bosco is by far the best. I really admire the Salesian approach to education; I feel blessed to be here.

Q: Why is SJB Global important to students?

A: Having classes online is beneficial because it offers flexibility to take classes that wouldn’t otherwise be available. It also allows students to travel for sports or other activities and not miss too much work. Students have the option to work at their own pace, which gives them some freedom as they develop self-accountability and time management skills. 

Q: What was your favorite subject growing up?

A: My favorite subject was English, but I also liked art and Spanish.

Q: Who is your favorite author?

A: J.K. Rowling is my favorite author. She inspired a whole generation to start reading. Harry Potter got me through some hard times. It’s a fantastic story with a lot of heart. If you haven’t read the books, you should give them a try.

Q: What would you tell students who want to become a teacher?

A: I would say that being called to teaching is a noble pursuit. Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions. 

Q: What is your favorite part of Bosco?

A: I can’t just pick one! My favorite parts of Bosco are the Salesian ethos and watching sports. 

Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of Bosco?

A: I like to mountain bike, float on a surfboard while my friends surf, write stories, travel and read. 

Q: Best fast food restaurant?

A: In-N-Out. There is no other right answer to this question.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: I have two dogs. I have a Bernese mountain dog named Henry, who’s like a 100 lb teddy bear. And I have a nervous border collie, Hobbes, who is named after the Calvin and Hobbes comic.

Q: Do you have a favorite sports team?

A: The Utah Utes.

Q: If you could have any car, what would it be?

A: I wouldn’t mind having an AeroMobil. Google it.

Q: What is your dream Vacation?

A: I would like to go on a trip with my whole family to somewhere remote and tropical, maybe the Philippines, Thailand or Samoa. 

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “Every life is in many days, day after day. We walk through ourselves, meeting robbers, ghosts, giants, old men, young men, wives, widows, brothers-in-love, but always meeting ourselves.” -James Joyce, Ulysses