Leadership often reveals itself in moments of challenge and change. When faced with the absence of a dedicated guitar teacher at Bowie High School, Jianna Zamora rose to the occasion, taking on the role of a teacher’s aide and inspiring her peers along the way. Her story  shares the power of initiative, resilience, and the impact of a supportive community.

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At the beginning of the school year ACGYO member, Jianna Zamora, learned that her high school’s guitar program had consolidated into a single class and was going to be taught by the new orchestra teacher; someone not familiar with the guitar. 

Recognizing an opportunity to contribute, Jianna embraced the chance to help teach her peers when approached by the orchestra and the music theory/piano teacher asking for assistance as a teacher’s aid.

“It sounded fun,” Jianna shared. “So, I was able to get my schedule changed and began teaching the class.”

This role wasn’t just about filling a gap; it was about creating a meaningful experience for her classmates. 

“Preparing for our first performance took the entire first 9 weeks of school. Though I was very proud of our performance, we had to make every class count to perform to the best of our ability.”

The experience of leading her peers offered Jianna invaluable insights into herself and her students.

 “I’ve learned so much, about teaching obviously, but also about myself and the students,” she reflected. “Getting to be in a leadership role really helped me to become more assertive and to speak my mind, which is essential when leading a class of 10 high schoolers!”

Jianna explains what inspired her to take on this role, 

“The guitar class at Bowie has not had a stable teacher since my freshman year. Since I’ve been informed that this school year will be the last year of the guitar class, I wanted to help out and provide a good class environment for the kids who signed up for the class this year. After attending the teacher summit at ACG over the summer, I felt like with the support from my teachers, peers, and mentors at ACG, I would be able to make a positive impact on the program.” 

Stepping into a dual role as both a student and teacher wasn’t without its difficulties. 

“It definitely has not always been smooth sailing, it was kind of tough to find the balance between being a student and a teacher.”

Despite these hurdles, Jianna’s commitment never wavered. Each challenge became an opportunity for growth, reinforcing her determination and deepening her connection to her peers and the program.

Jianna’s leadership at Bowie High School has created a ripple effect, empowering her classmates and leaving a lasting impression not only on the guitar program but on us as well. We are so proud and grateful to have incredible, hardworking, and dedicated students in our community. People like Jianna, help our community thrive.