Au Eagle Personal Statement

In the first journal of The Alternative, Galen Leonhardy journals his daily experiences as a teacher for an alternative school is Kozol Creek, Idaho. He describes the students in his classes and discusses his teaching methods to aid these students academically and socially, in order for them to transfer back into public life. The goals that he sets for himself regarding assisting the students are encountered by obstacles such as uncooperative colleagues and a local community that is ripe with preconceived stereotypes, poverty, and systematic neglect. The stark contrast between Leonhardy’s teaching methods and those of his unaccommodating coworkers reminds me of the disparity between some of the teachers that I had in middle school, some utilizing effective methods to encourage students and others employing unproductive methods of disparaging students.

At Hazelwood High School, they do things differently than at my school. At Hazelwood, most of the people worry about themselves and nobody else. Most of the school doesn’t get good grades and the school does not do anything about it. One day in English class Andy walked out when they were reading Macbeth because it was too emotional for Andy to handle. His friends were concerned and told the school counselor. They said, “But… but… it seems like… like… he needs help or somethin’.” Then the counselor said, “Well, I probably shouldn’t tell you boys this, but he is getting some outside counseling… So you boys can relax and be assured that he is getting whatever help he needs”(100). At Harrisburg High School, if someone had an issue like that, the counselors and teachers would be concerned, even if the person was getting outside help. Another thing about education that is different than mine is the school. In Ronda’s English homework, she wrote, “Our school building must have been built about a million years ago, because it was brown and tall and raggedy-looking, but it fit right in with the rest of the day”(16). At my high school, we are very fortunate to have a very new building to learn inside of. At Hazelwood High, they were not fortunate enough to have a new high school be built. Culture and education are very important pieces of people’s

For my entire life of schooling, both my parents and I would agree that I constantly complained about the educational systems in which I was enrolled. But when I actually take the time to think about everything I have been through, I realize that I have indeed had an excellent education. My schooling was full of opportunities and experiences, all of which contributed to the person I am today; adequate education has been an indispensable facet of my being. Sadly, not everyone has had this same privilege. And now as a college student, I am becoming even more aware of this sad fact. Looking around me in such a diverse city as Chicago, I find myself being more and more grateful. When I read Jonathan Kozol's Fremont High School, this these

During the last couple of years, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have gone through many difficulties; ranging from teacher strikes to low funding, which has tremendously taken a toll on the students attending these schools. The Illinois Policy Institute, which writes to inform the public of issues affecting Illinois states, “Seventy-five percent of students at the lowest-performing elementary schools failed to meet standards on state exams. More than 20 percent of these students scored in the lowest category in reading, meaning they have a difficult time determining the main idea of a persuasive essay or the plot of a short story…Students at Chicago’s lowest-performing high schools drop out at nearly 12 times the rate of average Illinois

“Education in our country is the social service equivalent of Katrina. Part of the challenge that we face in this nation is that we have to confront the fact that we have systems that are designed essentially to fail kids,” states Geoffrey Canada in his address at the Social Justice Leadership Conference (Newport, 2011). Canada has an innate ability to blatantly state the problems facing communities in this country. However he is not just talking; he is doing something about it.

Motivation drives us to accomplish our goals in life. A simple sentence such as "I can get through this day." or "I can become president." turns into the driving factor that helps us reach our destination. We all have used the "I can" statement and American Eagle has taken that statement to the next level in their #WeAllCan Campaign. The minute long video features a cast of celebrities in different settings throughout New York like Coney Island wearing a casual style of clothing. Black and white scenes intertwine with color scenes throughout the video, with even a vintage style of film shown. Through the credibility of the cast, the American Eagle Campaign effectively appeals to a target audience of millennials. The campaign uses pathos to create a cause of individuality and speaking out, but only uses those celebrities in a stereotypical way to sell the brand of clothes.

Predominantly urban, many of these schools are, by almost any measure, less congenial to learning than others, because proportionally, they have more teachers who are inexperienced, poorly trained, and uncertified; more textbooks that are outdated; fewer computers; larger class sizes... The collective case is indisputable: the students who most need our best teachers and best learning environments rarely have access to either (Robert Evans, "Reframing The Achievement

To call myself an AU Eagle, it would mean that I am apart of a community with a large capacity to endure in hopes to produce meaningful change. It would mean that I actively seek truth and do not let it squander in my mind. It would mean that my character is constantly reshaping due to the diverse opinions that cause me to review societal norms. It would mean that I use my imagination to question, debate, rally for my passions because when thought is entangled with drive, greatness occurs. It means I am a wonk.

A school’s main mission is to set up its students to succeed in the future. Almost everyone goes through the experience of school, but everyone experiences it differently. For me, I was fortunate enough to not worry about my education while growing up. For some, a good education is never a concern and these students do not have to worry about being prepared for the future. For others, such as the ones in Waiting for Superman, a good education does not come as easily. These students and families must struggle to obtain an education that sets students up for success. These families often end up in poorly managed public schools where their child receives a poor education due to their socioeconomic status. These

To assume this title would be an exploration in converting valued words of inspiration into courage. In my small town, enveloped in the Catskill Mountains, I am surrounded by the comfort of familiarity. I have seen very little of the world and it's diversities. As an AU Eagle, I would be afforded the opportunity to become acquainted with a new way of life in a way I have only dreamed of. Leaving the vigil of the mountains to be an AU Eagle would be a drastic change of scenery; mountains to metropolitan and an endeavor in my own daring.

Calling myself an AU Eagle would be a tremendous honor. As someone who seeks to pursue business, the opportunities appear limitless at American University. The unique Bachelor of Science in Business and Entertainment Degree is especially appealing. I have always been interested in the entertainment industry, and I find myself in the behind the scenes, business side. Attending school at a bustling campus in a major city would be the perfect fit for me because I thrive on other’s energy. I am confident that I would successfully contribute to the vibrant student body and flourish as an AU Eagle.

Public school systems need to be more sensitive to their students. Parents play the major role in determining a child’s academic outcome, but the school system needs to notice children who don’t necessarily acknowledge their gift. These children need guidance -- I believe it is the schools’ responsibility to provide it to them. I have been through a situation that makes me feel strongly about the subject. My example is an indisputable case in point.

Within my community there are many low income schools where the kids don’t get the attention they need. My mom works at Laurel Elementary School where many kids have bad home situations or can barely speak English. Many of them are struggling in school because they have so many other things going on in their life. My mom has spent time one on one with some of her students tutoring them after school or over the summer and it really helps them. By spending more time with the students one on one outside of school they will improve their grades and have more of a willingness to learn.

It was an easy task to recall times when I’ve either heard or participated in culturally destructive conversations. Often I hear the comment that parents of our students (Hispanic, ELL, low SES) don’t support the school, don’t value the education we are providing their child, think that it’s only the schools job to deal with misbehavior, learning, etc. Teaching at a Program Improvement school does have challenges, and I feel when these comments are made it’s because the teacher is frustrated and overburdened. Due to the low parent involvement, I can see why so many teachers have this point of view. I now understand that many of Olivewood’s parents may think that sending their child to school clean and fed is showing support for the school.

For the past six years, I have had the opportunity to work in private schools in a low income urban community, which has given me a deeper understanding of the challenging situations kids go through in the hands of single parents. Not only that, but having done my national service in a predominantly low socioeconomic district, where I sometimes had to walk for miles to work, is obvious of the educational injustice kids in low income communities go through. This is because during my national service, I saw kids whose parents could not afford just a single exercise book. There were also inadequate teaching and learning materials and kids sometimes had to sit under trees to Learn, whiles kids in urban schools enjoy comfort in their schools.