Life changing… it is a word that I sometimes think about, but never truly understood its’ meaning, until the summer of 2017. During church one morning my pastor was standing up on the stage in front of the congregation giving the announcements for the week. The final announcement was regarding a summer mission trip for high school students. The students would go to Reynosa, Mexico where there is a children’s home that my church serves at every year. I had never been on a mission trip and had never experienced anything like it before, so I decided that I would go on what could be a life-changing trip.
One month later, I was throwing my suitcase into the back of the old and rusted white van, because the other van had already been filled up. I had no idea how the van was even allowed to be on the road anymore because there was rust on the bottom edge of every body panel and door. When I climbed inside to get into my seat my foot went straight through the thin metal that had been disintegrated by the rust. I thought to myself that if we were in a crash on this trip, then I would probably die in this rusted heap of metal. An hour later, we started our long fourteen hour journey to southern Texas where we would spend the night in a hotel before crossing the border the next morning.
By this time, we were hours into the trip, laughing and joking together, then in an instant, every single person in the van, including myself, were transfixed on the concrete barrier that was
All was well for the first hour of the trip, until it wasn’t. I was sitting in the backseat on the passenger’s side, reading on my phone and minding my own business. The quietness of the truck was disrupted by expletives rolling out of my dad’s mouth. I looked up to see us sliding diagonally across the road onto a patch of mud.
When I first decided to expand my education, it had been so long since I had been to school, and I was very hesitant. I talked at length about my decision with my husband and with his encouragement, decided to enroll but still was not quite sure which degree program to enroll in. I knew that this was something that I had always wanted to do since I obtained my Associates Degree in Nursing, but I did not have the courage, nor did I want to give up the time with my family and children. I second guessed my abilities and my knowledge because it had been so long since I had been in college. Now that my children are about to graduate high school and
We left our car there and rode with Mike because his car had more space, which we were grateful for once we were four hours into the trip. When we arrived at the camp, it wasn’t what I expected. When I heard about the camp, I thought it was a small house that was down by the water, but I was very wrong. The real camp was a trailer about six feet off the ground to prevent it being washed away during a storm. Mosquitos were everywhere and some managed to get into the small trailer. The beds were rock hard and the water barely ran, but we were finally done travelling. I grabbed my sleeping bag and slung it on the dirty bed. I jumped on the bed and closed my eyes. I was exhausted from the ride and I fell asleep.
It was a night like any other, I was going fifty-five, traveling down the jet black highway. I was listening to the radio and focused on getting to my dad’s house before the evening grew any later. Normally the traffic is sparse and that night was no exception. In the distance I could see the flashing lights of a car in the emergency lane. As I approached, I decided that it would be safer moved into the lane furthest from the disabled vehicle, this decision would later turn out to be the best decision I could have made.
Agreeing to go with my brother to his church youth group one night was one of the most life-changing decisions I have ever made. I was in my brother’s Mercedes and I was very nervous. I was going to a youth
Every student deserves the best chance at getting the highest level of education they can, however, some students need a little extra support that others may not. A student, Axel, who is currently in my classroom has had a hard time keeping his focus and is often avoidant when it comes to his work. It has become clear that his avoidance becomes a distraction to the whole class. His behaviors currently include but are not limited to: rolling around on the floor during rug lessons, yelling across the room, walking around the room talking to friends, sharpening his pencil five or more times throughout the day, asking to go to the bathroom at inappropriate times, spending fifteen to twenty minutes in the
On September 12, 14, and 19, 2017 I had the pleasure of tutoring Haven. Haven is a nine-year-old, who is in fourth grade at Mark Twain Elementary School in Hannibal, MO. In each session, we would work together for 60 minutes. I was able to learn a lot of things while tutoring. First off, going in to tutor Haven and not knowing really anything about her and her learning preferences. It was hard not knowing what strategies helped her the most when reading or which ones made it more difficult for her. But that is going to be with any student(s), you just have to go with the flow. You will learn those things as you get to know the student. That is what happened with Haven and I, within the first tutoring session she let me know her learning preferences and what she liked. Then within the sessions we were together, I knew which strategy helped her while reading and what she struggled with.
During my first year in college, I did not realize the major challenges I would face being a first-generation college student that was undeclared as a major. I knew I had to continue my education as many of my teachers and advisers in high school had mentioned. But I never knew the struggle of not having a family member to ask for advice or guidance to navigate my college education or choosing a major. I became interested in helping other students in their path post-high school by volunteering, mentoring and working with high school students in their process of applying or learning about their postsecondary education options. After working with different ethnic groups I came to realize that those that identified as
Throughout our discussion there were several intriguing and engaging questions that were asked and sparked a good conversation among our group. One moment where I believe I was most successful in the discussion, was throughout minutes six through sixteen. Throughout this time, we discussed how the Party’s control in 1984 can be seen in the world around us today such as in North Korea. This question was first prompted by Leo but what I feel made this our groups most engaging point was how everyone added to the question by rephrasing it, or adding additional information and perspectives, or incorporating it into aspects they are most passionate about in their lives. From this point, I related it to history and how history can be rewritten to correct ways a nation or person has morally failed. I used the example of slavery to show this point. Starting from about minute eight I discuss with my group how according to an article my English class read last year, Texas history textbooks teach slavery based on how it economically impacted the South rather than by teaching the dehumanizing and awful treatment of other people. This question and the points brought up by this question were what I found to be most engaging. Our group spent nearly ten minutes on this point, because this point took a personal side and everyone had something to discuss from it. I believe the passion developed from this point is what made this not only my most successful moment but one of our groups best
It’s always sad to watch the semester go. You get into this routine everyday and it becomes your life. When the semester ends you get a break which is great but then you’re thrown into a whole new routine with new people. I, myself, am a very awkward person and I’m never too keen on talking to people I don’t know. It makes it hard for me to be okay with new routines, I’d rather just keep everything the same. My best interpretation of my writing would be this: I don’t know how to change up my routine. This is seen very clearly through all my essays. However, I’d like to focus on my three essays The Youngest of Five, Band Practice, and Liar, Liar.
They enveloped me like the saltwater of the ocean, the words sporadically dragging me down. I had always excelled at math and science; however, when it came to writing, especially about myself, I was an ordinary student. I hoped that at some point, spontaneously, my ability to write would be revamped to match my skills in problem-solving. Unfortunately, that point never came, and I had to learn how to substitute many of the words I used with larger, more descriptive words. Even so, my struggle with writing persisted, and the assignments continued to pour in. Eventually, I discovered that my conflict with essays and other compositions was due, in part, to my displeasure of writing about myself and my experiences. My aversion to writing has always been natural. Although, I learned that this abhorrence is reduced when I focus on a topic that interests me or when I control my writing’s development and outcome. The only type of writing that I had ever produced in school was the overly structured essays that were focused on me/myself. I assumed that no other approaches existed; however, I eventually discovered which elements of the writing process that were the roots of my displeasure.
Perspective. Nothing burnishes it more than the erosion caused by life's constant friction against one's mindset. From the safe suburbs of Massachusetts to a war-torn country. From the most luxurious districts in Syria to eating labneh with dried bread, wrapped in sheets in a 17°F-winter in Maaloula. Constant ups and downs that have done nothing to me but make me realize and appreciate life and the knowledge that accompanies strife.
Every experience, every interaction, and every conversation I have shaped me into who I am today. My family, friends, education and religion have all influenced my life. I grew up in a Christian home, went to a private Christian school and all my friends were either from my school or church. In high school, I switched to a public school, made new friends and was exposed to a whole new culture. Finally, I ended up at Stetson University, a whole new town, new friends and a chance to make my own path of life.
Every religion has different beliefs. I personally am Catholic, so we believe in some things that other people do not. Since I am Catholic we believe in having Godparents; it is almost like having a second set of parents, but they do not live under the same roof. Having Godparents is like having backup parents. If your parents pass away the Godparents would raise you and take care of you. Godparents are the ones who are supposed to help children understand things about God and their religion. They also make sure children are going down the right path in life. Sometimes I still question: What is the correct path in life? There are a variety of different paths that I could take, but sometimes I do not know which one is the perfect one; this is when my Godparents help me discover which path is the one for me.
Everyone has at least one point in their educational life that has shaped them into the student or person they are today. For me, coming together after being separated as the “Germantown” and “Farmersville” kids for the first six years of school changed the way I built myself as a student. Becoming friends with new people, having new teachers for every subject, changing up the routine, and actually having to switch classes has taught me a lot of different things.