We are thrilled to share another 49ers Academy alumni story. Meet Lupe Ma’afu. Lupe is not only an alumnus, she is the 49ers Academy’s newest caseworker for our high school program. Read the story of how the 49ers Academy has impacted her.
Q: If you were to approach a student who you think would also benefit from the 49ers Academy programs, what would you say to them?
We are a family and what that means is that we help each other out. You will never go through things alone. Our presence is always here.
Q: Tell us about your experience with the 49ers Academy and your journey returning to us as a staff member.
[The Academy] helped me come out of my comfort zone and pushed me to be the best person, academically and socially. I was able to participate in new opportunities I didn't think I was interested in, like band class and Leadership Club. As a student, I was good at sports. However, I learned that once you're a member of a team, you also have to balance that with school.
As students, we would see all these volunteers and people coming in to help. I learned from the staff that it is important to take care of your immediate family but your community is your family too. I wanted to take part in that. That is something I express to the kids, that it is not only important to take care of your family but also your community.
The Academy places a special focus on family support, focusing on the child as a whole, not just their identity as a student. The biggest thing is that the Academy is so family-oriented. They don't give just 100 percent, but 150 percent to their students. I realized that there are these amazing people that want so much for EPA youth and that I wanted to do the same.
When I think about my upbringing, it makes me emotional. At the end of the day, I found my way back home as a staff member. My sister also went through the Academy and this way I already had a connection with the staff.
At first, I did not know that the Academy was hiring. I was initially working at another non-profit after graduating from University of California, Davis. Returning as alumni is so fulfilling. I feel like I did a whole wrap-around. I ended up coming back home and it is the best fit for me. I also get to work with staff members I had as a student. My family was so happy for me because they know how much the 49ers Academy meant to me. [They] also had a great relationship with the Academy and it made them excited to come to events. It made it more comfortable and inviting for them to come.
Once a 49ers academy student, always a 49ers Academy student.
Q: As a caseworker, what impact do you hope to have on students and their families as it relates to your personal experiences?
I'm working with kids that when I was in middle school they were babies. There’s already a bonded connection there. I'm from EPA, I can understand those barriers based on experience and it’s important to have someone that you can bond with. I love providing my story to these kids because I see so much of myself in them. [They] ask me questions about why I came back and I love telling them my story, [they] ask questions about college and it sparks them in thinking about college.
Having someone they can easily connect with makes them feel so much more comfortable. I'm really trying to emphasize that they CAN do it, that they have the work ethic, and not to lose track of that by consistently giving them constructive feedback
Q: Is there anything you understand differently or have learned in transitioning to the caseworker role?
When you become a staff member, you understand how much people in education are underpaid but, at the end of the day, there is no price for the work we do; we just want to support the kids. You realize it is not about money. I am here to help the kids and pay is a bonus. Seeing your students blossom and reach their potential is always the best reward you can get.
I never really understood what a caseworker did until I became one. There are multiple sensitive topics that come about in working with kids. I have learned that, at the end of the day, we are human and we have emotions. As a caseworker, we are there to listen, understand, and provide any support that we can. It is an emotionally tough job but very rewarding in the end. There is no better reward than being here to support these kids.
Q: As someone that has seen the Academy grow over the years, what excites you most about the future of the programs? Is there a new program or development that stands out?
I was excited the first time I heard the Academy high school program has a partnership with Envision Your Path (EYP), which invites kids to practice project management, entrepreneurship, and to create a project to give back to the community. The Stash Academy, financial education for kids, is a great way to take advantage of Silicon Valley.
When I left eighth grade, the high school program was not fully developed and I did not know they had a high school program until I started working. In addition, I wish I had that [opportunity] to attend regular meetings to stay on track and had that space on campus with the Academy to be there for support at any time during the school day.
Q: Who inspires you and how does that person motivate your work?
My mom. Both my parents are immigrants from the islands. She highlights her faith because it got her through tough times. My mom doesn’t know that she got me through some tough times. I was in a house of 9 kids. That's where my social skills came from and my mom taught me the importance of looking out for each other. [She] worked three jobs, she never wanted her kids to worry about their financial status or any other adult concerns. She wanted us to be kids and also work hard. She gave her life to support her kids and I admire her deeply for that.
Q: Reflecting on your experience with the Academy, can you tell us about a time or an encounter with a staff member that is most memorable to you?
Ms. Sharkey really touches my heart. My parents are both hard workers and she understood the family dynamic I had. Her presence and her support made me feel comfortable coming to school. She always made us feel like special guests and the superstars of any event like the Gala and other donor-related events.
She is like a second mother [to me] and a “school mom.†She definitely helped me a lot in college. Through her work, she has shown how truly dedicated she is to supporting EPA youth.
I look up to Ms. Sharkey and I try to work as hard as [her].
