Personal Narrative: My Educational Leadership Program

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

Coming from a small town known as Plymouth, NC, resources weren’t always available. At my high school, my education was challenged every day. I overcame these challenges by striving to learn more and staying at the top of my class. When I think of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, I think of a serene place with ample opportunities. At UNCP, I believe I can turn my dreams into a reality. My unique ways of learning can bring a lot to the table. I’m not only a leader in the classroom, but I’m a leader in my community.

It was a humid August morning in Fork Union, Virginia when I, along with 42 of the finest cadets Fork Union Military Academy had to offer, boarded buses for a trip to our final training exercise of the 10-day leadership training course. This course was open only to cadets who had performed admirably in the prior school year. I was told the night before to be prepared for an orienteering course and to wear my battle dress uniform, which consisted of a pair of heavy, olive drab green cargo pants, a black polo shirt embroidered with the academy name, and a pair of carefully shined leather combat boots, the perfect uniform for a day of taxing exertion. When I arrived at Terry Farms, a school-owned plot of land that would serve as the orienteering course for that day, I surveyed my surroundings and saw acres of open fields bordered by dense forests filled with

My substitute teacher, Mrs. Johanson, was awesome. We were My class was lucky that our real teacher, Mrs. Vanderlip, was having a baby. If she didn’t we wouldn’t have helped our school. Anyway, Mrs. Johanson was cool. She challenged us to the point that we chose the challenge over the easy. She pushed us to be our best and to have fun doing it. She did get us side tracked just a bit but then she got us caught up by the end of the week, sometimes we’d even been ahead of the other classes. She was awesome.

Let’s be honest, every freshman is bound to get lost trying to find their way around school and I was one of them. I never knew that would be how I become a leader.

The mentorship program for the spring of 2018 was first sent out in the middle of January 2018. There I send out an email to my mentor the first week. I was then given a reply back from another mentor that I might have gotten the wrong mentor email. I quickly search up my correct mentor and send out the email the second week which is the end of January. My mentor did not reply back to me until the 12th of February. She mentioned that her schedule is variable at United Hospital and she is working that week at the hospital. During that week I have a few exams and thus I emailed her back saying that the following week will be a much better time.

I learned a lot at Saint Lawrence, and one thing that will help me is the amount of activity we do with others. One stands out, though, the one subject that makes me think about the difference I can make in the world. And that is my leadership class which I take for elective, it really helps me with connecting with others. My teacher for math, Mr. Wheeler really helps me with this. At the end, it all helps me to become a whole and active community member.

One way I hope to be a leader is to be the first person in my family to graduate college. Graduating college is one of the most important goals in my life for the next couple years. No one in my family has graduated and successfully earned a degree through college. My mother had only attended college almost ten years after having me right before she graduated high school. I want to be a strong role model to push and motivate my younger siblings and cousins to go to college and pursue their dreams with a college degree. Helping them understand that at least attending college would be better as having back up support for a job later on is something I hope to walk them through. Even if thinking they might or know they are going to have a good

I display the kind of leader I would want to follow after having the experiences of leading others in my current occupation. Finally the visuals I visualize as an Education Director, I was able to enforce as an Academy Director. I was given a promotion as an Academy Director at a child care center. My arrival at the new Academy was not with the requirements and desires of generating instant changes; instead I observed for a month, I asked several questions to the pervious Education Director, and I began to learn the staff members. Gradually over time changes were applied.

A shot of excitement washed over me like a wave washing onto sand, as I stepped into my fourth hour of the day for the first time. Stopping in the doorway, my eyes took in the small space that was in front of me; the long wooden desks with bright orange, metal chairs resting at their sides, to the small black bookshelf that was covering the back wall. In between was the long black table protruding from the left wall and dated couches with floral print in the back. As I finally stepped into the classroom, I saw the teacher. She was an older woman with short, boyish style gray hair, she had a plump frame and was a little bit taller than my 5’5 frame. On the bridge of her nose rested a small pair of circular glasses. “Hello class, I’m Ms. Naz,” her voice boomed. I scrambled to take my seat that was, thankfully, near the front. Scanning the classroom once more I hoped that I would find some of my friends. Seeing a girl who was in my second hour class, I made a mental note to try and talk to her later; beside her, I couldn’t find any of my newly made friends. I’m just going to love this class, a sarcastic voice in the back of my head exclaimed.

High school students, skip this section. College students, write a paragraph describing your leadership activities in college organizations. (at least 150 words, no more than 500 words)

Leaders take time to share blessings with others. In the summers, I volunteer with children during summer camps. In addition to my typical duties I make it a point to ensure every child feels included. Regardless of what they wear or difficulties they face, they are children who want to be just seen as the same. It breaks my heart when someone feels left out. Teaching children that everyone is special, have feelings and need inclusion is leadership.

I believe this activity was integral to my growth as an educational leader. Not only did this opportunity provide insight into the workings of school board meetings, but great knowledge was gained through the conversations that took place within this environment. All members worked well together and were able to cooperatively have meaningful conversations that were focused around student success. Although I attended this meeting virtually, there was still a sense of belonging when listening to the conversations. The dialogue was open and realistic which is promising to the public who might want to attend and understand the content that is actually being discussed.

Reminiscing on my childhood, I recall many fond memories, but playing with Dominoes on the kitchen table stands out more prominently than the others. Contrary to their intended use, I did not actually play the real Dominoes game; instead, like most other children, I stacked them into lines. Tediously I balanced each porcelain rectangle upright, cautiously winding them around the perimeter of the round wooden platform until finally I could set the last one into place and complete the circle. I would step back, admire my work, then effortlessly put it to action with the flick of my little finger. At that age, I remember my fascination with the idea that one tiny movement could set off such a chain. Likewise, the summer before my junior

My classroom management philosophy is a patchwork quilt of pieces taken from proven researched techniques and my own personal experience of methods that work. The goal is for students to be self-reliant and empowered. Creating an atmosphere that is conducive to learning is best achieve through effective classroom management. Content standards are not the only items education should teach. Skills needed to successfully navigate the road of life. Building in self-discipline skills will assist students later in life when students find themselves in a less structured environment. Establishing rules and enforcing them consistently, empowering students to oversee their educational experience, rewarding positive behavior, choices and forming a