Hello! My name is Dr. Maritza Cha. I am a first generation Latina. I am a passionate school counselor advocate. I graduated from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles and became the first in my family to attend and graduate from college, the University of California, Los Angeles. I graduated in 2005 with two Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and History, with a minor in Education. UCLA was so nice I went there twice, earning a Master’s Degree in Education, as well as a teaching credential, from UCLA’s Teacher Education Program in 2007. I taught social studies at my alma mater, Garfield High School for 4 years.  In 2010, I and several colleagues designed and launched a pilot school within the Los Angeles Unified School District – Social Justice Leadership Academy at Esteban Torres High School. I then decided to work towards my lifelong dream of becoming a college counselor. I earned a second Master’s Degree, a counseling credential and child welfare and attendance credential, from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2015. I worked as a school counselor for 8 years. I completed my PhD at Claremont Graduate University in Education, Urban Leadership. I teach future school counselors at University of La Verne and I own laschoolcounselor, LLC.