Personal Narrative: My Educational Autobiography

My education started not long after I was born in 1989. I attended Ruth Washburn Nursery School, for 3 years, but I don’t have a lot of memories of what I learned. 3 things stand out to me. This was a place of great fun!! I learned how to love running. I could run for ages. Secondly the plecostomus’s were the coolest fish in the fish tank! Lastly I remember the song that goes, “Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give it away.”

Over the past eighteen years I have been alive, there have not been any real challenges I have faced in my pursuit of education. I come from a family of immigrants that managed to find themselves a good life, away from the ghetto and the poverty line, through hard work. Both my parents had to move to a place away from everything they knew to learn English as a second language to give their children, myself included, a better chance at life, and I can gladly say their effort was not in vain. If there was one thing I struggled with in pursuit of my education, it would have to be myself.

Throughout my educational experience I noticed the discrepancies with regard to the advantages my peers possessed. In high school as I began exploring what career I wished to pursue, I experienced inferiority as my classmates who’ve taken the ACT three times, visited college campuses, and have had resumes ready since the 6th grade unintentionally mocked my lack of college-readiness. However, my ignorance wasn’t intentional, my parents never reached a high school education in Mexico, they couldn’t pass down SAT tips or acquire internship opportunities for me. I realized it's vital to pick up the pace to avoid being left in the dust akin to countless others in my situation. Henceforth, this statement resonates with my experience, I interpreted

My educational history is very diverse. I went to Catholic school from kindergarten to sixth grade, then went to public school from seventh to twelfth grade. The transition from Catholic school to public school was very complicated but at the same time it was effortless. I did not have to wear a uniform, go to church, or learn religion anymore.

Everyone has a special talent when it comes to school. Some people are good at sports, some people excel in math and some people like myself are good at English. As a Freshman in high school, I had no interest in how essays are written or how poets compose their rhymes. Them I entered Honors English and my view changed drastically. I was engaged and eager to know how a writer could write a novel so well, that you got lost in a book. I wanted to know more. Being as interested as I was, I wanted to know how I could do this.Now entering my Freshman year as a college student, I still feel the same way. I want to constantly learn more and improve. This is how my education influenced my course choice.

I find myself reading this short paragraph over and over(above). My topic sentence makes me happy and proud. Going back to school was the best thing I have done. I chose to talk about going back to school to the “future employer” because it shows I am motivated as well as dedicated. This class has brought a lot to my attention. The mannerism that is expected in the “business world” is to speak and write well. It is extremely important to know how to write (type) a meaning full and proper paper whether it is for school or work. I have noticed a great impact in my vocabulary and writing skills. My boss told me on Monday he is impressed with the new docs I typed up for our new clients (with no help from him). I was not excited about this class

Now let’s quickly close this protracted (slide rule scaled) essay by skipping over the gaping and barren caldera that is my Public School education, where I studiously avoided the pre-med Math and Science track - since I don’t plan on becoming a doctor or a mathematician, in favor of Castle’s (almost but not quite) nationally recognized Media Arts Program - since I do plan on pursuing the Arts, diving deep into the (Liberal) Arts and Languages - Pidgin, Spanish, French, English & Writing classes, to emulate the trail-blazing trajectory of my older (and similarly math-phobic) sister Maria, so like her I too might procure a Kenyon Film degree and secure my fame and fortune and everything that goes with it - I thank you all (and one day The Academy)

In the previous years, I have made the decision to work concurrently with my education. I have been working as a waitress in a local restaurant for years. My parents were opposed to my working since they wanted me to focus on my grades, but I wanted to lessen the financial burden for them. Both of my parents never received an education and they wanted me to solely focus on school to secure myself a better future despite our poverty.

In my life it hasn’t always been easy. Of course my educational Grit showed its true colors throughout elementary school and grade 9 where I flourished in every aspect possible. But in grade 10 onwards I had science teachers who either just joked around with the class and didn’t teach at all or a teacher that taught so much and when you asked for help, she wouldn’t help instead she would make you feel pathetic and stupid by telling the class every single day that “you are worthless” or that “you would never reach your goals” or my favorite “you are terrible in the sciences, you should stop now because you will never reach your dreams ever”. Then in the few months of summer vacation; being sexually assaulted by two friends as well as another

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.

A lot of people think education is just something you get in school, but in reality education comes from different places and people not just school and teachers. For example, way before I started school I was already being educated by my parents, they taught me how to eat, behave, use the bathroom, talk, and a lot of other things that help out in life.

I believe in education. Education has always been an important part of my life and has continued to help me advance in school and will later help me succeed in life. Although many people don’t see the value in education, I am a firm believer that education can take you places if you put your mind to it. For example, my mom was laid off from Zippo after 18 years of service and decided to go to college for a new beginning. After two years of college, my mom was able to complete her associate’s degree and get a job back at Zippo in the accounting field. If my mom can juggle college as well as being a full time mom, anyone should be able to succeed in college. Education is the building blocks of life.

Are you in turmoil as to what should be your choice in career? Are you worried about where you are headed in life and if you are ever going to be happy with your achievements?

Upon being asked about my future, I have always been met with anxiety and fear of such unknown. Growing up, as more and more of my peers developed their specific interests and even revealed desired career choices, I only felt lost in terms of what I wished to purse. I found that I was easily overwhelmed if I allowed myself to read too deeply into the dreaded “what am I going to do with my life” question. I have come to realize that it is much less anxiety provoking, however, if I view this matter on a smaller scale. After all, I do have aspirations and goals that I strive to achieve on a short-term basis.

English 101 was a challenging course. A constant stream of reading and writing lead to a demanding yet rewarding semester. The variety of texts read and written about provided a plethora of life lessons and demonstrations of values. Now at the end of the course I find myself a better student and writer. The texts themselves were not influential to my growth as a critical reader or college student. Rather, it was my own analysis of the texts that allowed me to consider other perspectives on technology use in the classroom and the importance of revision when it comes to school work.