My Education : My Educational Experience

I began Mrs. Chambers’ interview with the first background question, like in the first two interviews, tell me about your educational experiences in school. Mrs. Chambers’ responded:

My overall educational experience at West Los Angeles College was great. I have met professors and counselors that changed my life. They believed in me before I believe in myself. Those mentors have been encouraging and supporting me unconditionally. I dream that one day I could have the chance to make a difference in the life of a student like those heroes did. Being involved in the community have supported me tremendously in my journey. As an immigrant, a low-income family and a mom, without the support of programs like the EOP&s, I wouldn't be able to achieve what I have accomplished in my

To begin my educational journey I wouldn’t really think it was a lot until further I got into school with a lot of things. Elementary was easy for me I only got one F. I was upset about it but never knew about it because my mom never showed me my grades until I was older. Which it didn’t really matter to me at that time when I saw them then because it had already passed. Junior High I started to slack off I didn’t want to do anything, of course I had to if I didn’t then I would fail my classes and not move on to the next grade. Then High school started I would say I did alright but I definitely could’ve done better.

While I have encountered an unfathomable number of obstacles along my educational journey, one of the largest obstacles I have encountered has been simply realizing my own potential. To begin, I was the product of a father who left before my birth, and a mother who clung to illegal substances as her escape from reality. Being a child thrown into such a world, I did not think much about the "could be's" or "what if's." I did not set very large goals for myself.

Now this part right here is in a way personal, i’m here to talk about my life and emotions on furthering my education. I come from a family where anything is possible, if you have your mind set on something you get up and fight for what you want, no excuses. I’m a 17 year old girl from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico, I wish I could tell you about the beautiful place where I’m from but sadly, I can’t tell you anything. I get a lot of crap from my family because I don’t remember anything from Mexico, lately i’ve been missing home more than ever. I always knew I could accomplish something if I set my mind to it, I just don’t feel capable of taking a chance I don’t even have. In case it didn’t get stuck in your head before, I’m a 17 year old undocumented

When I was a kid, school for me was waking up early in the morning. I also have to study a lot in school, then after school I have to do homework. I remember my first day at school. My mom and dad, both were so happy and prepared but I was so nervous and cheerless. I didn’t like to wake up early in the morning for school , but as time flew by I started loving school which made me wake up with energy instead of tiredness. I began to enjoy the school as I made new friends and I got to know how it is like when you meet people out of your neighborhood. With my friends I had lunch together and study together. I started to understand what the purpose of the education system. Based on what I understood I think the purpose of education is really aimed at helping students get to the point where they can learn to be on their own. In this journey of education I had a lot of positive and few negative experiences,but the negative experiences also helped me growing. Positive experiences are my teachers helping me improve, and I improved more when I moved to the United States.

College is said to be the best four years of one’s life. I believe that, no matter the circumstances, the outcome of someone’s college experience is completely dependent upon the student himself. Regardless of any obstacles a student faces, it is up to himself to make the most out of college and be successful. Despite the various challenges that lay ahead of me, either common among university students or unique to myself, I will graduate and make college the best four years of my life. Universities each have their own challenges that students must overcome. Many students, myself included, don’t arrive with the proper preparation for a college education. On top of these challenges, I will face my own hardships

Throughout my educational journey as a student, I was fortunate enough to experience a plethora of teaching philosophies. Combining my schooling involvement from growing up in the Caribbean and exploring my higher level of education in the United States, I was able to observe the benefits and disadvantages of being in different educational systems. I had no inclination of where my future would lead—not realizing that discerning these teaching approaches would serve me well when I became an educator myself. As I entered into this profession, my desire was to have goals that were sustainable and will truly warrant success for all my students. After understanding the dynamics of the school environment, I had to navigate ways to attain that ambition. By applying various strategies, having determination, and being passionate about the students who were before me, I finally gathered two main philosophies that are extremely useful and relevant. By applying the beliefs of the Choice Theory, plus catering to students and their different learning styles, prove to be most effective in my classroom. My specific inspiration for teaching is to develop students who can intuitively use their skills to succeed throughout their academic matriculation.

While doing my practicum experience I realized many things about students and the diversity that surrounds the classroom. My practicum classroom had twenty-four students, there was one student on a behavioral IEP, three ELL students, 4 students on IEPs. Out of the four student on IEPs one of the students had Down Syndrome. In the classroom, there was another student on the verge of being on an IEP, but there was too many variables that did not allow her the opportunity to get on an IEP. After considering all of these students learning and behavioral needs the teacher needs to consider home life. Some parents shelter the students, while other parents allow their children to experience life not as sheltered. Diversity surrounds the classroom

I was never sure I can make it this far I had the knowledge and the drive, then I finally got my Breakthrough in life. I always wanted to go to college becauses I knew the endless possibilities that can happen in my life and my family. When I was given an opportunity to increase my chances at making college I waste a second to take my chance and looking back on 3 summers I made the right decision. Through reflecting on my times as breakthrough student, I learned that my biggest area of growth have been dealing with challenges, working with discomfort, and discovering new concepts.

Education in America is taken for granted. People do not realize that learning any part of literacy was a luxury in the past. Today, it is considered a luxury in smaller countries that are under-developed. In those developing countries, public education is not free like it is in America. Parents are pushing their kids into school earlier and for longer. In the 1800s, children normally ended education after eighth-grade. Their school days were half of what they are today. Each thing taught is important in its own way, but literacy is required to survive in the world today. Going somewhere as simple as the grocery store requires the smallest amount of literacy. I started my literacy journey when I was a mere 4 years old. My journey was challenging in some parts and a breeze in other parts. Learning to write was the hardest part of my journey, while reading and comprehending was effortless.

Learning, it’s done in classrooms, in occupation training, and at military training facilities. There is no one place where you can have an educational experience, but there are many many ways that you can learn. Personally, I learn through conversations, experiences, and visual interactions; such as through a lesson on federalism, an activity for political parties, and when I staffed an encampment.

At age 20, I found myself without any formal education, no formal school education of anyform. I came from a homeschool upbringing, by my mother, who despite her tremendous love, left me and my younger siblings to teach ourselves. Based on the belief public school would cause us to lose our innocence **other stupid reasons for homeschool** with a solution to teach us at home instead. Unfortunately the majority of my childhood had little schooling, which caused me to develop social anxiety, fear of public schools; when asked to read the bible in church we would pass, beg not to, lie and say we were tired. I didn’t learn to read until I was 10 years old. However my childhood, despite my different upbringing, it has allowed me to appreciate education much more than others who have been in a classroom since age 4, I have had many unique and experiences and enriching relationships that have all contributed to my life's purpose do something meaningful for others, and enable them to help themselves, just as I struggled at -** enable others to heal themselves with their own power.**

When my mother was young and just starting in school she was told she would be nothing more than a house wife. All that I am, all of my personal and academic success all derives from this one incident. Imagine that, Imagen being young and having someone older and a respected member of the school system in your young eye tell you that you well never amount to anything more than a house wife. Why my mother was told this? The same reason I was told that it would be highly unlikely that I would ever read higher than a fifth grade reading level. My mother and I are dyslexic.

All throughout the summer of 2016, I had spent my time volunteering at the Chinese Christian Mission kid’s summer camp. After my summer vacation ended, I found myself really appreciating the accompaniment of children and wanting to continue my involvement with them. I seeked out for more opportunities to work with children and discovered an afterschool homework club through a friend's facebook post. After reading up on their website, I was interested in helping elementary school students develop essential math and literacy skills. It was my objective to enhance their self-esteem through improvement in academic skills and ignite a passion for learning in a safe and caring environment. Starting out first as a tutor, then becoming coordinator, I have volunteered with Learning Buddies Network for more than a year now.