Roshele De Los Santos is a single mother of two teenagers from Irvington, New Jersey. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York in a one-bedroom apartment with her family. De Los Santos has a dual bachelor's degree in Art Therapy and Early Childhood Education. She comes from a close-knit family with Southern traditions passed down from her grandmother who had 17 children. De Los Santos' education began in Brooklyn and she now teaches dance for free through her church.

1. EDU 650 - INTRODUCTION
Instructor: Laura Wilde
By: Roshele L. B. De Los Santos

3. Family Structure- Single (divorced) mother of two children, a son and a
daughter.
• Religious Affiliation- Pentecostal (Church of God In Christ)
Education Level- Dual bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy and Early
Childhood Education
Type of Neighborhood- Irvington, New Jersey is an urban township.
These three categories serve as my inspiration and have all helped to
shape my character. To me, each one is connected and combine to weave
out my life. My God and my family are the most important to me and
serve as my foundation for everything that I do.

4.  My name is Roshele De Los Santos; I am a single mother of two beautiful teenagers from New Jersey.
My children and I currently live in Irvington, NJ which is an urban township. I was born and raised in
Brooklyn, NY in a one bedroom apartment with my mom, dad, sister and brother. My grandmother and
family lived in the apartment directly above us.
 My grandmother, on my mother’s side, was the matriarch of the family. She was born in Toccoa,
Georgia which used to be a Native American reservation. She bore 17 children and took on 7 foster
children throughout her lifetime. My family is very close and still hold true to some southern traditions
past on by my grandmother. My grandmother left school with a 4th grade education, my mother graduated
high school, and I graduated college with my BA. Even though I am not the oldest female grandchild the
family baton was passed to me by my grandmother.

5.  My education began with a ½ day Kindergarten program at the public school near my home in
Brooklyn. I remained in this elementary school until I graduated in the 6th grade. My family moved to East
Orange, NJ and I went to Catholic school for middle school and high school. However, my parents couldn’t
afford to keep me and my sister in private school so I had to transfer to a public high school during my
senior year. Due to the lack of finances college was a constant struggle.
 When I was a little girl dancing on the sidewalk in front of my building. A French dance instructor saw
me and convinced my mother to allow my to attend her dance class for free. My parents were able to get a
leotard but could not afford ballet shoes. Now I teach dance for free through my church and have been
doing so for almost 20 years.
 My grandmother left me her favorite cooking pots and utensils to help me get the family together over a
delicious spread of food after she passed away.

10. Elementary School