Brissa Mendez-Olivas (‘26) a senior at Mead High School plans to attend Metropolitan State University next year, studying to become an elementary school teacher. Although she’s not sure what grade she wants to teach yet, but she’s thinking about 3rd or 5th grade students.
Brissa wants to pursue elementary school teaching because she thinks that “it’s really important to shape, from a young age, [students] to be their own human beings and how to grow up in society.”
Brissa thinks that this job fits her personality in the fact that, “elementary school teachers need to be super bubbly, and super fun, and, as much as they can get tired, they need to be those people who are always upbeat.” So, she believes that her bubbly, fun, and silly personality is what will enable “students to love [her] classroom.”
She is also excited to be an adult and to be treated as one, though she will miss being in choir and the choir community. Brissa will also miss Ms. Berry, the Choir teacher at MHS, because, to her, “Ms. Berry really changed [her] life throughout and changed who [she] was.” Overall, Brissa would say that Ms. Berry was a staff member who changed her high school experience for the better.
Throughout all of high school, one of Brissa’s silliest and fondest moments was the final night of the musical Mamma Mia!, put on by Mead High School in 2025. She recalls Taylor Morris (‘25), Lily Kaplan (‘26), and herself who played the roles, Donna, Rosie, and Tanya, who are all best friends in the musical.
“On stage, [when] singing “Chiquitita,” [we] all started laughing, messing up our lines…and [we] all jumped on the bed and [went] “AH” and giggled, all cute and fun.” But after such a fun and joyous moment, they found themselves sitting on the bed crying, “mourning the last night of Mamma Mia!” She shares this moment was just such a heartwarming instance, an “I love my friends” moment, and I was right where I wanted to be.”
Brissa remembers that, as a freshman, she really felt the need to defend herself. Ms. Berry also helped show Brissa that, “people need these safe spaces [like choir] and [a Ms. Berry] kind of person in their life.” In addition, Brissa believes that “teaching is one of the best ways to be able to do that.” She added that making this safe space for kids is something that strives for as a teacher.
As advice for freshman, Brissa says, “high school is rough” but it’s, “such a short experience to sit here and bully, be rude, and defend yourself.” She recommends that, “it’s not that serious, and high school should be about getting your education, having fun, [and] going to football games.”
She would rate her high school experience an overall six-seven on a scale of one-ten, saying she’s just “very excited to see where things are headed.”
