Aspiring Astrophysicist Encourages Local Kids to Follow Dreams
St. Louis Language Immersion School Graduate Speaks to Students
St. Louis, Mo. (July 15, 2025) St. Louis native and Washington University sophomore Isaac Gutierrez started his path toward becoming an astrophysicist right in the heart of St. Louis at St. Louis Language Immersion School (SLLIS). Gutierrez recently returned to SLLIS to give a speech to graduates, encouraging them to keep pushing and pursuing their dreams as they continue their educational journey this fall.
SLLIS is a dual language immersion school for Pre-K through eighth grade, where students learn their subjects in two languages, English and a target language of either Chinese, French or Spanish. Gutierrez went through the French program, learning his third language along the way as he already spoke English and Spanish as a young child. He credits SLLIS with improving his communication skills across all three of the languages he speaks.
“SLLIS places a heavy emphasis on not just foreign language comprehension but also communication in general,” Gutierrez said. “You learn to look at cultural cues, body language, facial expressions and hundreds of subtle differences in the way people speak. I noticed in French that people tend not to be as emotional in their words, even if it’s something they’re super excited about. Instead, there are other cues to look at to determine their feelings, intentions and objectives. I feel like that ability to understand people has helped me connect with others in college, my current research projects, and even my own family. The more languages you can pick up, the more social and cultural cues you can pick up.”
Gutierrez first started exploring the world of space and mathematics while at SLLIS. He vividly remembers talking with his French-language teachers and his math instructors about the infinite possibilities of space and the math needed to explore them. He carried that passion with him to Wash U, where he currently works in one of the astrophysics labs.
“The teachers there made it very easy for me to remember different methods for doing math, and I’ve continued that interest now that I’m in college,” Gutierrez said. “The educational model at SLLIS also allowed me to pick up on norms in my current workspace and continues to help me deepen my relationships at my job, like addressing my French-speaking higher-ups with ‘vous,’ which is equally present in the Hispanic faculty with Spanish formalities. Just the rigor of learning another language and the challenging coursework at SLLIS trained my brain for higher-level work, and it is paying off in college. My time there truly helped me with what I do now.”
Gutierrez recently spoke to eighth-grade graduates at SLLIS who will be on their way to high school soon. He encouraged them to stay motivated and to try their best. He pointed out the pandemic as a tremendous challenge students of this generation have faced, but emphasized that keeping on top of their studies is the way forward. Gutierrez also has two siblings who currently attend SLLIS.
“The room where we did the graduation was my gym at one point, where I would run around with my friends as a kid,” Gutierrez said. “Coming back to see SLLIS was as comforting as it was when my family and I moved to the U.S., as its strong immigrant community was very welcoming and still feels like home now. Whether you’re from anywhere in the world or someone with deep roots in St. Louis, it feels like a family at SLLIS."
About St. Louis Language Immersion School
St. Louis Language Immersion School was founded in 2009 and is a charter school serving Pre-K through 8th grade to the City of St. Louis. The school provides students with a world-class, global, dual language immersion education in French, Spanish or Chinese, taught by native speakers. The one of a kind school was named the 2024 Best Public Charter School in Missouri and plays an essential role in the fabric of the St. Louis community. For more information, go to www.sllis.org.