I believe in the power of education. More
specifically, I believe that no student is "too bad" or "cannot be reached". At
a fresh nineteen, I entered a third grade classroom in H.B. Wilson Elementary
school located Camden, NJ. In the first few moments, I gazed around the room in
awe. Why are their uniforms ripped and
stained? Where are their book bags? A shining white smile stopped my
thoughts for a moment. "What is your name?” a friendly third grader asked me
with excitement in his voice like I was some type of celebrity. "Angela", I
replied trying to take in all that was staring at me in this small classroom
students and atmosphere alike. Thirteen students, three teachers. This classroom
had been named the one with the "behavioral problems" but after about three
visits I quickly learned that the only problem that these boys had were being
too excited about school. Perhaps it was an escape from their anxiety ridden
lives at home where they were left wondering if dad would come home safe or
waking up to deafening gun shorts. Nevertheless, the students were yearning for
more, and more information. I have never seen students so excited in a
classroom, I was awakened. I had never seen students so willing to work together
and achieve things with one another, as friends. Previous schools I had observed
were just like the classrooms I spent the majority of my childhood in. They were
full of cliques, uninterested students, and better yet a teacher whose
priorities may have not always been about reaching her students. My future
career goals quickly changed after my experience at H.B. Wilson.
I was inspired to become a teacher who
would transform her classroom into a community of students who were all friends,
with all sorts of problems, but who shared common ground and truly understood
one another. So this is what I believe in...I believe in the power of education.
I believe that no matter where a student comes from, what type of problems have
been piled onto them, or what "disability" has been attached to their name for
the rest of their academic career is no disadvantage. Children who come from
communities that are fallen apart, where crime is knocking at their backdoors
(literally) can be reached. This is where my belief comes from. My belief was
planted in the third grade classroom at H.B. Wilson Elementary school. My roots
grew as weeks and weeks past that I spent time in this classroom. What bloomed
was an inspiration that I plan to carry with me for the rest of my life.
Breaking down the barriers and defying odds are what to plan to do. I plan to
create my own flowers that will shine and bloom regardless of where their seeds
were planted.
specifically, I believe that no student is "too bad" or "cannot be reached". At
a fresh nineteen, I entered a third grade classroom in H.B. Wilson Elementary
school located Camden, NJ. In the first few moments, I gazed around the room in
awe. Why are their uniforms ripped and
stained? Where are their book bags? A shining white smile stopped my
thoughts for a moment. "What is your name?” a friendly third grader asked me
with excitement in his voice like I was some type of celebrity. "Angela", I
replied trying to take in all that was staring at me in this small classroom
students and atmosphere alike. Thirteen students, three teachers. This classroom
had been named the one with the "behavioral problems" but after about three
visits I quickly learned that the only problem that these boys had were being
too excited about school. Perhaps it was an escape from their anxiety ridden
lives at home where they were left wondering if dad would come home safe or
waking up to deafening gun shorts. Nevertheless, the students were yearning for
more, and more information. I have never seen students so excited in a
classroom, I was awakened. I had never seen students so willing to work together
and achieve things with one another, as friends. Previous schools I had observed
were just like the classrooms I spent the majority of my childhood in. They were
full of cliques, uninterested students, and better yet a teacher whose
priorities may have not always been about reaching her students. My future
career goals quickly changed after my experience at H.B. Wilson.
I was inspired to become a teacher who
would transform her classroom into a community of students who were all friends,
with all sorts of problems, but who shared common ground and truly understood
one another. So this is what I believe in...I believe in the power of education.
I believe that no matter where a student comes from, what type of problems have
been piled onto them, or what "disability" has been attached to their name for
the rest of their academic career is no disadvantage. Children who come from
communities that are fallen apart, where crime is knocking at their backdoors
(literally) can be reached. This is where my belief comes from. My belief was
planted in the third grade classroom at H.B. Wilson Elementary school. My roots
grew as weeks and weeks past that I spent time in this classroom. What bloomed
was an inspiration that I plan to carry with me for the rest of my life.
Breaking down the barriers and defying odds are what to plan to do. I plan to
create my own flowers that will shine and bloom regardless of where their seeds
were planted.
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