Shannon Danesi

As Shannon Danesi sits in class taking in lectures, completing assignments and finishing the day�s readings, it�s that eventual role reversal she looks forward to in the future.

The University of Houston-Victoria junior has dreams of one day standing before her own students as a high school math teacher.

�My family is full of teachers, which is kind of funny. I never really paid attention to that when I was younger,� she said as she laughed. �But I�ve always known I wanted to teach. I just didn�t know what it was I wanted to teach.�

The inspiration to pursue math � always one of her stronger subjects � came during her senior year of high school, thanks to encouragement from her pre-calculus teacher.

�I�m not the greatest mathematician, but it comes easy to me,� Danesi said. �I decided this was what I wanted to do.�

The Victoria native graduated from St. Joseph High School in 2011 before moving on to UHV, which was close to home and had the added advantage of offering Danesi a soccer scholarship. Today she�s double majoring in education and mathematics.

Class time and homework aren�t the only things keeping Danesi busy. She works at Victoria�s Nazareth Academy and also tutors students, which offers helpful practice for her future career.

A longtime soccer player � she played forward for the Jaguars for a year before opting for a break � Danesi said she takes to the field for a game when she can.

�I�ve been playing since I was about 6,� she said. �I don�t know what it is about soccer, but I love it.�

The 20-year-old said she�s enjoying her time in school and encouraged others to do the same. It can make a difference when students pace themselves.

�Don�t feel like you have to overload yourself,� she said. �I know a lot of people try to take as many hours as they can just to get through with college. I think it�s best to take it slow and enjoy the experience. It�s worth it.�

I am a Jaguar is an online feature highlighting the exceptional students who attend the University of Houston-Victoria. To nominate a student, email Paula Cobler, UHV director of marketing and communications, or call her at 361-570-4350.