Profile of a Patch User: Chauntel Oseguera

Name: Chauntel Oseguera 

Age: 32

Where do you live in South City and how long have you been here?

I live in Old Town right off of Linden Avenue. I love this neighborhood and all of our neighbors; we have a real sense of community here. I grew up right here in Old Town, South City. I attended and , and graduated from in 1997. I attended Bethany University in Scotts Valley, California, where I really learned to appreciate the diversity of my hometown.

What brought you back to South San Francisco after attending college?

After returning from school and while working on my teaching credential, I received an offer for my dream job; to be a teacher at South City High. I have always been a Warrior at heart, and so I leapt at the chance to return home and make a difference in my community. South City is my dear home and no matter how much talk circulates about moving to the sunshine or away from recent crime trends, I cannot imagine raising my family anywhere but in the community that nurtured and loved me and made me who I am today.

What do you teach?

I teach English, and although it can be challenging, I wouldn’t do anything else. I love and appreciate my colleagues at South City High, a lot of who have molded and shaped my adult life. For me teaching is more than a profession; I feel it is my unique calling. I was made for this, and I consider it an honor that I am allowed to play a role in shaping the lives of the young people who come into my classroom each day. I am especially fond of my tougher kids; you know, the ones with stories to tell. I love these kids with every fiber of my being, and they know it. When our community suffered the loss of Jose “Pepe” Lopez, virtually on my doorstep, I didn’t know if I could continue. It was the kids that pulled me through. We mourned together and we became family.

Who makes up your family?

I have been married to my husband Gerardo Oseguera for a little over 5 years. He is a sports fanatic (something that I swore I would never entertain, but the heart wants what the heart wants—not to mention he’s pretty handsome). We have three wonderful children: Sunny, who is 12 and will be attending in the fall, Emilio, who is 3 and he never stops running, and my baby girl Phoebe, who just turned one and is a source of constant joy.

What kind of history do you have in South City?

I am fourth generation South Citian. My great grandparents migrated from Italy and moved to South City from San Francisco. My grandfather and both my parents attended South City High as well as my sister and brother. We are South City people. I think it is in our thick blood; we don’t do well in the heat, and we see beauty in the fog.

How else do you contribute to the community?

I am an animal fanatic and work passionately for a canine rescue group, All Fur Love Rescue. Our rescue receives emails and phone calls from shelters as far away as Bakersfield that provide a list of dogs that are about to be put to sleep, due to over crowding, behavior or medical issues. We then transport the dogs and get them vetted, groomed and into a loving foster who cares for them as their own until they find a new home. We advertise our pups on www.petfinder.com, which is an excellent resource for anyone looking to add a furry friend to their family.

What is your favorite South City restaurant?

We frequent on Baden, well more than I like to admit. We love their service and the food is outstanding. When my parents went on a trip to serve at an orphanage in Tijuana with our church’s youth group a few years ago, the owner of La Morena stepped up and sponsored part of that trip. What a beautiful thing, a business helping the community at large. You can’t get more special than that.

What is your favorite local shop?

Well, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to our family-owned business, Rozzi Reproduction & Supply. They have been serving the community of South San Francisco since my uncle started the shop in the late 1960s when he took over from his father who worked for the city’s Planning Commission and saw a need for a blueprint service in town. Rozzi’s has stayed open due to a lot of faith and their unwavering commitment to customer service.

What is your perfect Sunday in South City?

Our perfect Sundays always begin in chaos. Trying to get a tween and two toddlers out of the house on time for church is no easy task. Lucky for us, our church is local too. I have attended on Orange Avenue my entire life. So we begin here with all of our friends and family, and the rest of the day kind of centers around plans that are made as we just fellowship after service. Our friends also love to come over to our home to see the new mangy mutt we are caring for this week, and hear its sad tale of destitution and despair. Needless to say, nearly my entire family has adopted dogs that have come through our home. 

How did you hear about South San Francisco Patch?

I came across Patch when I was searching for information about the tragic events that occurred in our neighborhood. Honestly, Patch was the best source for information; it was up to date and told us what we needed to know...that we were not forgotten. Someone cared enough to ask questions and seek answers. It meant a lot to the people of this community.

Do your friends and family read Patch?

After hearing me go on and on and on about Patch, I not only hooked my family, but also a lot of the faculty of SSFHS and members of our church.

What has kept you coming back to Patch for more?

During our recent school district debacle, I became addicted to Patch, not just the articles, but people’s comments. I love that I can get a sense of the community’s feelings about current events. I see this as the most valuable aspect of Patch.

Have you learned anything about local goings-on from Patch that you weren't already aware of? 

Interestingly enough, I, as well as other faculty members learned of important meetings and forums from Patch. These were a huge part of the healing that is taking place in our district and the teachers would really like to extend our deepest gratitude to Patch columnists for taking the time to investigate and expose the actions of our district; for many of us, this has been a huge eye opener.