Before entering education, Karol Marin never believed teaching was her true calling. She never saw it as her true passion, but her parents played a huge role in this, they encouraged her to try it because they thought it was her vocation, she went from preschool classrooms, to now, being a dedicated teacher at The Columbus.

 Marin reflects on the challenges and rewards of her career, she emphasizes teaching is a content challenge, but Karol loves challenges and also she thinks that the most important thing for her is sparking curiosity in students and making a lasting impact beyond the classroom.

“I never believed I had the vocation to be a teacher,” Marin admitted. “The idea actually came from my parents. They always thought that my true calling was teaching, but I felt my vocation was elsewhere.” 

Despite this, Marin dedicated herself to this and became the best at it, or at least for me, she has gained lots of experience across all educational levels and has found fulfillment in very unexpected ways.

One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching for Marin is the ability to inspire even if it is just one student in a class. “When you manage to make just one person in a large group curious about what you’re saying or discussing, I think that’s the most rewarding part.” 

She believes that making students curious and excited about gaining knowledge is crucial in today’s world which is totally driven by technology in all ways, in a world where students have instant access to information, with literally a clock. However, lots of them may lack the ability to explore beyond what is available.

Mariana Bernal, who is one of Karol’s students, agrees that her teaching methods make a real difference. 

“Karol is very good. I think every student has a good relationship with her. She helps with anything that you need, being personal, being whatever. She’s going to help you.”

Marin’s impact really extends beyond academic instruction. She integrates real-world events into her lessons, also news and things that directly affect us but we do not know, this encourages students to engage in debates and group discussions about what is going on in the world and also it keeps us informed, this enhances student’s understanding of global issues

. “One of the things that she does every class is give news of what’s happening in the world. I think that it’s very effective because we can learn about all the things that are happening in the world, in our country, and it is a very interesting way to learn,” Bernal observed.

Marin also recognizes that keeping students engaged is hard, mostly in this digital age. “The biggest challenge we face today is sparking interest. In a highly technological world, where everything is at your fingertips… captivating interest and fostering creativity are, in my opinion, the most significant challenges we face today.”

 However, she overcomes this challenge by using interactive methods, like debates and group projects, that encourage students to think critically and collaborate. She also uses different methods like making physical posters or ubicating things in maps. 

“Karol uses activities like debates and group projects so we can learn about other people’s thinking, and we can all learn together,” Bernal added.

Beyond academics, Marin hopes to leave a mark on her students, specifically she wants to inculcate the values of discipline and resilience.

 “Beyond academic content, I hope my students learn discipline and boundaries. Life is full of limitations, and how you face those limitations is crucial.” 

Her goal is to prepare students not just for exams, but for the challenges they will face in the future. That is one of the things that makes her an incredible teacher. She really cares for students as human beings.

Despite her initial doubts, Marin has embraced teaching as a form of empowerment. “For me, that’s the great power of being a teacher: empowering someone else with knowledge. It feels like you’ve helped that person level up.” 

Her students recognize this effort, as Bernal notes, “Karol has helped me to think very critically and to say my opinions because everyone can learn.”

For Marin, teaching is not just about delivering content and making students memorize things to study for exams, it’s about shaping students’ perspectives and equipping them for the future. She does this in different ways like through classroom discussions, news updates, or one-on-one support. Her goal is to make learning relevant and meaningful and I believe she does this very well. 

Despite her not being sure about teaching being her vocation, Karol has become a teacher who leaves a lasting impact on her students including me, ensuring they walk away with more than just knowledge, they walk away with confidence, curiosity, and the ability to think for themselves. That is the power of teaching more specifically the power of Marin.