For this house of thought that is #HeritageOfAll, there is a date that especially embodies its mission and commitment to society: Teacher’s Day! Thus, to commemorate it, for the second consecutive year, we launch the special series #StoriesThatInspire, which seeks to exalt the teaching profession through emotional stories that show the transformative impact of education. This time, to start the 2025 edition on the right foot, we bring as protagonist Professor Andrea Calderón Villarreal, a talented woman whose story invites reflection on how, from classrooms and beyond, those dedicated to educating others impact the lives of their students.

In the vast and varied universe of education, there are moments that mark the destiny of those who dare to dream big. Thirteen years ago, on a day that seemed like any other, an extraordinary story began to take shape in the classrooms of the Social Communication Department at Universidad del Cauca. At that zero hour, when the clock marked the start of a new chapter, Andrea Calderón Villarreal crossed the doors of her alma mater—not as a student, but as the guide she had dreamed of becoming since she was very young.

A graduate of this same program, her academic journey led her to explore new frontiers of knowledge at Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar in Quito, Ecuador, where she earned a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies with a focus on Arts and Visual Studies. Today, as a doctoral candidate in Ethnobiology and Biocultural Studies at Unicauca, Andrea has become that approachable professor who returned over a decade ago to the home that trained her, to realize her dreams and share her passion for knowledge.

And indeed, in her classes, she doesn’t just teach; she creates a space where Communication Theories intertwine with aesthetics and art. From Artistic Electives to Audiovisual Appreciation and Aesthetics and Media Production with an audiovisual focus, this professor invites her students to explore not only academic content but also to discover their own creative potential.

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Her path is an inspiring testimony of how returning home can also be an act of generosity toward those seeking to find their voice in the world. Thus, her story truly makes us reflect on how behind every professional choice there are often various influences, such as family environment, school performance, or close role models.

And as often happens, there is almost always an experience that marks the course, and for Professor Andrea, that moment came when she was just a child.
“My first approach to teaching was around 8 years old."

At that time, I lived in a rural area with my mother and went to the school there; racism and mistreatment by teachers toward students were constant and normalized. There was a girl, the daughter of a friend of my mother, whom the teacher repeatedly scolded and punished by making her kneel on corn kernels for not learning or not understanding; but the problem was not the girl, the problem was how the teacher taught. So in the afternoons, when the girl and her mother came to my house, we played school, and I explained things we had learned… playing, the girl was very receptive. Later, every achievement of the girl made me happy; it confirmed that the problem was not her, the problem was the system. Of course, I understand this now because back then I was only happy playing teacher.”

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It is clear then that Professor Andrea had, from a very young age, a special sensitivity for teaching, and years later, the opportunity arose to work as a professor at Universidad del Cauca, which she saw as a way to share and give back what she had received. Since then, she has sought to teach with care and generosity, aiming that her students not only acquire knowledge but also meaningful life lessons that allow them to reflect on who they are and who they wish to become.

“Being a professor has given me much; it has allowed me to rediscover myself as a person, it has forced me to take political positions I didn’t think necessary before. One of the beautiful things that teaching has left me, or that I am grateful for, is recognizing myself as a feminist. That is, finally having the voice to say ‘I am a feminist,’ and that arises from an ethical commitment to my students, because I consider it important to contribute from life itself with perspectives and views that help us understand ourselves as complex beings, beings immersed in contexts that require taking a stand, diverse beings that also allow us to find, in some way, diverse spaces and scenarios for listening and healthy conflict.”

This talented woman reminds us that higher education not only transforms the lives of students but also those of professors, while allowing them to find their own passions, struggles, and causes.

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For this Unicaucana, teaching is a deeply human experience, involving bonds similar to those of a family, with affections and tensions, as she has experienced substantial and meaningful changes with her students—from those who initially show rejection to becoming close and receptive people, including young people she receives in her first class, very disconnected, but who evolve to become professionals carrying with them something of what was shared in the classroom.

“I believe being a professor is a dignity. I believe I will be grateful all my life to those who gave me the opportunity and continue to do so. I believe this is a profession not to be practiced for just a time; I think when one decides to enter this universe of being a professor, one does so for life. And for me, the strongest message is that we must teach with love, teach not necessarily what one believes, but considering those whom one is going to teach, contemplating their universes, which do not always coincide with ours. And I believe that from love, creativity, and committed work, we indeed reclaim this position of being professors.”

There is no doubt that Professor Andrea enjoys her work because it allows her to explore, play, and transform complex content into close and meaningful learning, using creative and artistic methodologies that make theory an applicable and fun experience. She also values the support of her colleagues, who have supported proposals like Artistic Electives focused on comics, graphic novels, textile narration, and gender perspective, which has allowed her to work in a collaborative environment that enriches pedagogical processes and fills them with meaning.

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“For me, Teacher’s Day is a day that fills me with pride, a day that makes me feel fortunate to practice this profession, makes me feel important, and also generates a commitment to the University and to the students. I believe professors are people who directly affect the lives of their students. My life was marked by very special professors who helped shape who I am today as a person and professional. Feeling seen, recognized, and valued made me want my students to feel that way too. Among others, there are professors Lucila, Dilia, Socorro, Amparo, Irma Piedad, Olga Patricia, Piedad, Rosemary, Olga Lucía, and professors Nelson and Guillermo, among many others,” she concludes emotionally, recognizing and exalting the mark left by other teachers in her own life.

Thus, we begin this second year of #StoriesThatInspire; a series that gives voice to stories that, although often remain in the shadows, shine brightly when told and shared with more people. Professor Andrea’s story is a living example of this: an educator whose dedication, creativity, and humanity have left an indelible mark on her students’ lives. In an institution where the true heritage lies in its people, it is an honor to recognize professionals like her.
Happy Teacher’s Day, Professor Andrea! Thank you for teaching with heart in this house that is #HeritageOfAll and for reminding us that every lesson goes beyond the classroom.

 

Written by: Communications Management Center