Interview with Coach Esteremera

By Zoey Yu

The squeak of sneakers, the bounce of a basketball, and a coach yelling “You got this!”-that’s when you know you’re in her class. 

 Coach Estremera doesn’t just know how to play basketball; she practically grew up with it. She was born in the Bay Area, and she lived in Mount Grove, Fresno, and Mountain View. Coach Estremera began her journey in basketball when she was nine, playing with her friends until her mother called her in.

She kept playing through middle school, high school, and continued through college at Cal State East Bay, joining travel teams to play at higher levels. Now, she is a PE coach at SPB who aims to help students find passion in sports. “I love being around kids, playing sports, and being able to be a big kid around my students and just to have fun with them,” said Coach Estremera. Because she grew up with sports, Coach Estremera aims to pass that sports knowledge down. Her coaching style makes her classes challenging enough, but not stressful. 

Confidence is a big thing that she tries to teach. If someone feels uncomfortable trying, Coach Estremera will try to help them develop the confidence they need by showing them how to do it step-by-step. Then, she encourages the student to try again. Coach Estremera also encourages more experienced students to help others, because students are often more comfortable to open up in front of their friends. 

For her, the most important things are trying your best and being kind. She encourages her students to give their best in PE and in overcoming challenges outside of the gym. In her PE class, she tells her students to participate fully, and do what they can. “If you don't try in life, if you don’t give your 100% effort in life, you’re just going to stay in a stagnant area, you're never going to know what your potential is,” Coach Estremera said. She also always encourages her students to be kind, include everyone, make others feel good, and never tear anyone down. 

Through her encouragement, Coach Estremera teaches that with enough heart and effort, every student can reach their goal.