Autobiography

My name is Ana Viridiana Mercado Ratliff. I am from México D.F. (Mexico City) where I was born and grew up with over 20 million other people. My parents were high school teachers, which has led to my interest in being educated and my deep respect for education. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and a vocational degree in secretarial skills.

At an early age, I was involved in Folkloric dance, public speaking and poetry. I performed for several years around the city, allowing me to express myself and deal with the daily stress of the crazy city.

In 1997, I met the love of my life, Nathan John Ratliff, who gave me the opportunity to enjoy his culture and his country. I immigrated to the United States in 2001. Upon my arrival, learning the language was crucial to my development in this society. I immediately enrolled at the English as a Second Language Program at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon.

Simultaneously, I got involved in Middle Eastern dance, while my husband was studying Law. This activity helped me deal with my frustration of not communicating my thoughts with fluency.

Through these programs, I met a lot of people from all over the world, who had different backgrounds and different ways of thinking, which was very enjoyable.

In 2003, we finished our respective programs and moved to Klamath Falls. This place ironically reminds me a lot Mexico City, because of their geographical similarities. Both cities are in long valleys surrounded by desert mountains. Mexico City had a beautiful lake, while Klamath Falls still has one, but without the billons of lights all over, yet.

I like this place a lot because it is clean and not overcrowded. I like to have time to be around my family, which has been very supportive, whereas I found it still a little bit hard for me to be away from my family who is still living in Mexico. So, I try to visit at any opportunity which I find I go to see them.

I have a brother who is living in Canada, and my sister who is with my mother in Mexico. I enjoy taking care of my pets a lot and being at home. That is why I like to work with the community through education to keep this place clean and peaceful.

In Winter 2004, I started working at Mazama High School in ESL/ELD (English Language Development) as a paraprofessional. I help other students to deal with the transition of being in another country, in which English is the most important key to understanding the culture and feeling like part of the community.

Also, I started a Middle Eastern dance club, which helps my students, and myself, build our self-esteem and have fun. Learning together and enjoying new and exciting things as a team is fun. For this reason, I have a constant interest in improving my education.

Becoming a teacher is my next goal. I have met a lot of excellent teachers at Mazama High School, who have helped me to stand by my dream and to clarify my decision to become a teacher like them. This summer I started the MAT (Masters of Art in Teaching) program at Southern Oregon University (SOU), from which I believe I will learn lot, and I will be meeting very interesting people who have very similar lovely interests around education, as well as to improve it. I am really excited to enjoy this new experience with you.