Bianca Colon is a guiding light on the way. We didn’t speak often, but seeing Bianca live life impacted mine. I admired her compassion for others, commitment to family and steady embrace of life’s work.
Bianca’s story is one of triumph.
Bianca was fierce and confident. She faced obstacles instead of cowering. Bianca viewed life’s challenges as opportunities to learn and grow a greater truth. Bianca created a beautiful family with her fiancé, Philip Vargas. In August of 2021 their son Damian Vargas came into the world. They relocated to Vernon, CT as Bianca began teaching at Springfield Preparatory Charter school in Springfield, Massachusetts.
I had the privilege of interviewing Bianca last Thursday. I wanted to learn how Bianca managed; teaching middle school science, serving in a restaurant and being a mother.
Bianca’s answer was simple and plain:
“You attract what you give to the world.”
-Bianca Colon
Bianca said that everyday she reminded herself of how blessed she was for her support network: the reflection of lessons learned.
Bianca’s motherhood served her students in the classroom. She cared for her students with love and sternness; the way she hoped her son’s future teachers would. Bianca’s goal was not to dictate what her students believed. Rather Bianca wished for her students to garner a sense of accountability to guide their actions.
“It’s one thing to tell someone something, it’s another to show them alternatives.”
-Bianca Colon
Bianca saw students’ potential whether or not the adults in their life could:
“Support looks different for everyone involved…it takes a village…I just feel like some of these parents feel lost…as a teacher you’re surrounded by resources…you have so much power.”
-Bianca Colon
Bianca grew up in Bridgeport, CT and attended a trade school studying architecture. After high school Bianca was accepted into the engineering school at Fairfield University. Despite plans, Bianca found herself most engaged during psychology classes. With the help of beloved teacher and mentor, Dr. Dorothea Braginsky, Bianca realized the trajectory of her purpose would be working with people:
“I do like learning about people and how they think, and how I can help them in some way.”
-Bianca Colon
Bianca spoke on how she found being a teacher requires an evolving learning approach, rather than achieving some level of mastery:
“That’s the thing about teaching that I love the most; it’s that you are learning something new every single day, it keeps your mind going…My mind can never grow old as long as I’m a teacher.”
Bianca Colon
In celebration of Bianca Colon, whose love lives on through those she touched.
Friends are invited to attend calling hours on Saturday, April 8, 2023, beginning at 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at Funeraria Luz de Paz, 426 East Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, CT. To plant a tree in Bianca’s name follow this link.