As a junior in high school I spent a lot of time volunteering with children. I participated in Read for America and at my local Head Start program. I loved children so much it came as no surprise to my parents when I told them I wanted to be a teacher. My mom directed me to my school counselor to begin taking classes and participating in extra curricular activities which would provide a better experience for my new found passion. I remember my appointment with my school counselor like it was yesterday. I was really excited to go in and tell her the news. I told her I was interested in pursuing a career in education and in particular elementary education. My counselor began to explain to me and show me various charts highlighting salaries based upon majors in college. Of course education was pretty low on the list but not too bad. She then went on to ask my family history. We talked about how my mom and dad had not attended college but both earned a pretty good living in their own way. My counselor went on to tell me the likelihood of me making it to college was slim to none and if I made it in I wouldn’t graduate as no one in my family had ever done it so what made me so different. I felt horrible upon leaving my counselors office. Through our hour-long session she had pretty much killed my dreams of becoming a teacher and insisted I attend a local vocational school to become a nursing assistant…and that way I could still see children.
As a result, I began college as a pre-med psych major. Although I made it into college I did fail my first psych and pre-med science courses. I soon realized I needed to keep with the path I wanted and felt I was destined for. I went on to register as a Child Development major and graduated with a double degree in Child Development and Social Work with a minor in Pan African Studies.
When I think back on this incident it almost bring tears to my eyes as it really took something out of me. It made me look at education and college differently. I viewed college as such a hard task to accomplish and many times I wanted to give up. I felt so accomplished after completing school.
In order to change situations like this I believe it starts with the training of our school counselors and teachers. I’m not sure what was included with teacher in service days back in the 90’s while I was in school but I recall many similar situations of teachers making comments that were inappropriate or bias. I think if teachers and counselors were given proper training on how to answer these types of questions or concerns from students without showing a bias or insinuating certain things situations like this would not be as common.
Shayla,
ReplyDeleteWow!!Have you gone back to that counselor to show her she was way wrong!! Good for you for overcoming that obstacle and pursuing your dream! My girlfriend Marjan is Iranian. She and her family have suffered from bias, especially after 911 living in a NY suburb. Her son's 3rd grade teacher told Marjan "Your son is not as smart as you think." As it turns out her son was so smart, that he was accepted into Princeton after his junior year of high school. He never graduated as a senior. Marjan had the opportunity to tell the teacher of his success after seeing her in the food store one day. It gave her closure.
Hi Shayla,
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that you went ahead with your plans to graduate college and pursued your dreams even though the guidance councelor told you different. I think it would be great to go back to that counselor and show her your accomplishments. Maybe it will make her realize how her negativity gave you the drive to do better.
I worked with disabled adults who were college students and I had one student who was blind in one eye and he was told by a college counselor that he would fail his courses. He took Chemistry, Calculus, Italian and French. Not only did he take this courses, but he had gotten himself a 4.0 GPA. He went back to the counselor and said, "well, you told me that I was way over my head and would fail, well, take a look at my grades, does it look like I failed to you?" When the counselor looked at the grades his mouth dropped because the counselor was so surprised that someone with a heavy load could pass all those classes and maintain a 4.0 GPA.
I wish you continued success.
Shayla I am glad that you decided to change the course of the naysayers and pursue your passsion - child development. One thing I have learned during this course is that people who have biases don't realize they have it and think they are helping but actually hurting innocent people. Your were stronger than her comments and overcame them and you are succeeding.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to say how teachers were back then. As an educator we have to accept any prejudices or acts of discrimination that comes our way in sake of the child. We are role models not protagonist. It's our job to educate not hate. I hope we can end this barrier of hatred against our students because we have to figure out what's best for them.
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