At school I’m surrounded by people who share my beliefs, support my passions, and encourage me to continue growing. At home, I’m forced to defend those beliefs. It’s frustrating to not be understood, to have to explain myself, and to be around those whose point-of-view will never converge with mine.
However, the life I’m preparing myself for is one of advocacy, of being a voice for the voiceless. What could be better preparation than practice? And here, it seems, I’ve met my most worthy opponents. Sturdy brick walls who refuse to budge. These are the opinions I’ve always been guided by, the people I’ve aimed to please. If I can’t speak up to them, if I can’t bear to hear them argue that there are more important things to worry about than the rights of my students, then what am I doing?
When I decided to devote all my energy and my college experience to minority students and English learners, I knew that I was entering a battle. I was making myself a part of a system that doesn’t have room or time for these students. I was signing up to be a quasi warrior, armed with my unjaded ideals, my heart of hope, and my unfaltering determination.
I know some think I’m still childish and that my hopes are unrealistic, but I will always see students where you want me to see dollar signs and they come first. I am not naïve enough to believe that I can change the world, but I’m confident enough to believe that I will change my students. I will be their advocate, their voice when they need it, and most importantly their teacher. The knowledge I will give them will enable them to take on this unforgiving world with the confidence to speak and the knowledge to succeed.
However, the life I’m preparing myself for is one of advocacy, of being a voice for the voiceless. What could be better preparation than practice? And here, it seems, I’ve met my most worthy opponents. Sturdy brick walls who refuse to budge. These are the opinions I’ve always been guided by, the people I’ve aimed to please. If I can’t speak up to them, if I can’t bear to hear them argue that there are more important things to worry about than the rights of my students, then what am I doing?
When I decided to devote all my energy and my college experience to minority students and English learners, I knew that I was entering a battle. I was making myself a part of a system that doesn’t have room or time for these students. I was signing up to be a quasi warrior, armed with my unjaded ideals, my heart of hope, and my unfaltering determination.
I know some think I’m still childish and that my hopes are unrealistic, but I will always see students where you want me to see dollar signs and they come first. I am not naïve enough to believe that I can change the world, but I’m confident enough to believe that I will change my students. I will be their advocate, their voice when they need it, and most importantly their teacher. The knowledge I will give them will enable them to take on this unforgiving world with the confidence to speak and the knowledge to succeed.
