PLUS ME Spotlight: Christine LaPorte
PLUS ME Project believes everyone has a story that matters and our work centers around the power of the personal narrative. We are proud to launch our newest initiative, PLUS ME Spotlight, which is a monthly segment that will highlight stories of our biggest supporters.
This month we are shining a story spotlight on one of PLUS ME’s most enthusiastic supporters: Christine LaPorte.
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Resides: Oceanside, CA
Occupation: High School Math Teacher
As a teenager, Christine was an honors high school student, varsity cheerleader, soccer player, and Junior Rotary Club member. She excelled in her academics and always knew college was the route she wanted to take. She attended Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois and became heavily involved on her campus. Christine was a Tri Delta member, resident advisor, and school ambassador.
Her time in college had a positive impact on her life and was the place where Christine gained a strong sense of self-awareness. She always loved math and the idea of pursuing a teaching career came after a conversation she had with one of her professors. As a result, she graduated with a degree in Mathematics & Secondary Education and immediately moved to Southern California to teach.
After graduating college, Christine’s dedication and hard work continued to bring great success her way. She bought her first home at 24, was debt free, and was very proud of the independence she had gained as a young adult. However, despite these accomplishments, Christine felt something was still missing from her life. She turned to her faith to seek answers and realized she wanted to do more service work. She pursued a teaching opportunity at a Catholic high school in San Diego and here she realized she could not only teach what she loves, but also remind students of their own faith and purpose in life on a daily basis. Ultimately, Christine wants to be remembered as a teacher who loved her students and was dedicated to their growth.
As a teacher and youth advocate, Christine greatly supports the mission of the PLUS ME Project and believes the work being done is beneficial and necessary. She really loves the new PLUS ME notebooks that serve as a wonderful tool for students to discover and articulate their own stories. Christine believes that every teenager should have our specialized notebooks as a way for them to expand their self-awareness and appreciate their unique journey.
Christine at our 5th Annual Silent Auction Benefit
Christine with her students on a trip