IwasborninSanFrancisco,CaliforniaonJanuary22,1998.Unfortunately,mybirthfatherwas murderedwhenIwastwoyearsold.IgrewupintheBayviewdistrictwithmymother,stepfather, andyoungerbrotherGrowingup,myfamilydidnothavemuchmoney,butwedidhaveeachother MygrandmothertrulyinspiredmyChristianfaith;whenIwaseightyearsold,IattendedaTeddy BearTeaPartyatActsFullGospelChurchofGodinChristinOakland,California.Sincethen,the churchhasbecomemysecondhome.Aroundthesametimemyfatherwaskilled,Iwasdiagnosed withborderlineautismattheageoftwo,soIamnotassocialasmanyofmypeersandIlosemy temperfairlyeasilyHowever,thismayexplainmydrivetosucceedandmyabilitytoeasily befriendotherpeople...showmorecontent...
MycurrentmajoratCityCollegeofSanFrancisco,whichissimilartomusicproduction,isfilm, TV,andelectronicmediaMymusicalbackgroundcouldbedescribedasamemoirBytheageof three,IplayedthepianobyearsoproficientlythatIwouldbecomeachoirdirector.Speakingof choirs,laterinmychildhood,IsangtenorandaltovocalsintheAngelicVoicesyouthgospel choraleinOakland.Asateenager,Ilearnedhowtousemusicproductionsoftware,suchas GarageBand,ProTools,andAbletonLive,attheBayviewHuntersPointCenterforArtsand TechnologyandtheYouthArtExchangeAndcurrently,Iplaythepiano,producemusic,andsing backuptenorvocalsalongsidemygrandmother,gospelsingerVictoriaStith,andthebandGod's AnointedChildren,whichconsistsofmygrandmother,mybrother,mycousins,andme.Hopefully, Icancompleteall60requiredunitsatCCSFwithinthenexttwoandahalfyearsbeforetransferring toUSC–oranyschoolinSouthernCalifornia–thatprovidesamusicormusicproduction
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ItallstartedwhenIcamebackfromfootballpracticeandwaswatchingT.V.Iwas10atthetime, andIstumbleduponachannelwherethesewomenmodeledtheseremarkablemasterpieces.It peakedmyinterestincreatingsimilarfashionpieces.Iscurriedtomyroomandbegandrawing.
Subsequently,IdashedtoshowmyparentswhatIcreated.Iexpectedthemtobeproudand supportiveofme,liketheyalwaysdo,butthistimetheirfacesturnedfromsmilestocomplete confusion.Theygaspedandscoldedatme.Ineverunderstoodwhytheytheyweresomad.Why wouldmynumberonesupportersturnagainstme?I'mXander.Alexandertobeexact.Igrewupin FortLauderdale,Floridawithbothofmyparents,mysisterSammy,andmydogBusterIhave brightblueeyeswhich,infact,IgotfrommyDad.MyrichdarkbrownhairIclearlygotfrommy Mom.IhavebeenplayingfootballeversinceIcouldremember.Iamcurrentlythecaptainof LauderdaleHighSchool'sfootballteam.ThisismylastyearuntilIgoofftocollegetomajorin business.AnotherthingiswhenIwasakidIwasincrediblycreativeanddeeplyattractedtoart. AlthoughmyDadalwayspushedmetoplayfootball,eversinceIwasborn,hewasafirmbeliever indoingwhatyouwanttodo.Plus,Iwasnaturallyphysicallymadeforthejob.Anyways,bothof myparentshavebeenverysupportiveofme,andsohasmygirlfriend,Zoe.ThecatchisifItoldmy familyandZoethatIwanttomajorinarts,theywould
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Whilegrowingup,myfamilyalwayspushedmetolearnsomethingnew.Beingakindergarten teacher,mymothertaughtmethebasicsofreadingandwriting.Thosebasicskillslaidthe foundationforallofmyreadingandwritingexperiences.Inelementaryschool,bookreportsand spellingbeesweremyfavoriteactivities.Throughoutmiddleandhighschool,Ihadonedetermined teacher,whowasmyteacherforallofmyreadingandwritingclassesIbelieveexperiencesinmy earlyyears,myinterestsinelementaryschool,andaspecificteacherinhighschoolmademethe readerandwriterIamtoday.Toemphasize,beingthechildofateacherdefinitelyhasitsbenefits. AssoonasIphysicallycould,IwasreadingandwritingWhenIwasyoungerIlovedScoobyDoo books.Myearliestmemoryhappenstobewhenmymomwasinthehospitalhavingmytwinsisters. Iwaswaitingoutside,readingaScoobyDoobook.Iremembermyfirstdayofkindergartenvery vividly.Iexpectedmyfirstyearofschooltobemuchmoredifficultthanitactuallywas.Froma youngage,myparentsstressedhowimportantgradeswere.Ibelievemygradesplayedan...show morecontent
Everyyearwewouldhaveabookreport.Atthisage,Iwasobsessedwithhorses,thereforIalways chosetoreadbooksabouthorses.IreadbooksfromthePhantomStallionseries,aswellas Seabiscuit.Ialsoenjoyedart,soafterreadingthebook,makingacreativeposterwasalsofun.The competitionoftryingtowinabookreportwassomethingIwasinterestedin.Aroundfourthgrade, myschoolstartedtohavespellingbeesMybestfriendwastheonlyperson,otherthanmyself,who wantedtowin.IfIwonatmyelementaryschool,Icouldproceedtodistrict,state,andevennational levels.Sadly,Inevermadeitpaststate.EventhoughIwasneveractuallysuccessfulatspelling bees,itwasafunactivityformeduringmyelementary
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CareerAutobiography
Throughoutlife,peopleareinfluencedbyotherswhenitcomestocareerpaths.Forexample,career pathscanbedirectedbyourbackgroundssuchasfamilyandculture.ThecareerpathIchosehas beeninfluencedbyfamilyandthosewhosupportmeandencouragemeduringschool.Thecareer path,IhavechosenistoworkwithwomensurvivorsofdomesticviolenceandsexualassaultIwill discusshowself–assessmentshelpedmegainanunderstanding,whichcareersmightbeworth pursuingbecauseofmyinterests.
Ihavealwaysbeenencouragedbymyfamilytovolunteertogainanunderstandingthatexperience isvaluable,eveniftheworkisunpaid.Whilevolunteering,itallowedmetoseeifIcouldhandle dealingwithtraumavictimsinhospitalsettings.IchosethemajorofpsychologybecauseIalways wantedtobecomeatherapistandhelpthoseindifficultlifesituations.Iknewthatmyfamily wantedmetofeelrewardedandsatisfiedwiththecareerIchooseandtonotfocusmainlyonsalary. MyfamilyalwaysthoughtitwasimportanttogetacollegeeducationandagoodcareerTheydid notattendschoolthemselvesandknowthestrugglesoffindingajobwithoutthequalificationsand education.Theculturalinfluencesthatimpactedmydecisionwasthatmyfamilycanunderstandmy careerpath.Myfamilylooksatcounselorsasimportantpeopleinsocietyandasacareerworth pursuing.BothofmyparentsarefromPolandanddidnotattendschoolinthe
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Iwasbornandraisedintoahardworkingfamilythatarethecompleteoppositeofculturealienators. MysiblingsandIareallfirstgenerationinAmericaonmymom'ssideandsecondgenerationonmy dad'sside.Lifewasveryhardformyparentstoraiseallsevenofusanddependedonmy grandparentsformostoftheirhelp.Beingthatmygrandparentsbroughtallnineoftheirkidsto AmericafromBelizeitwasalsoveryhardforthemsosurviveandfindstabilityMostfamiliesthat cometoAmericafromathirdworldcountryusuallyfinditverydifficulttokeepupfamily traditionsandsometimesloseallcontact.Myfamilyfoundawaytostayverycloseandkeepthe BelizeancultureveryalivestilltothisdayAsyoucantellbynowshowmorecontent Thisleftmymomwithsevenkidstoraisebyherself.Meaningoneononetimewasrare,because mymomisnotasuperheroandcouldnotbeinmultipleplacesatonetime.Griefleftmyfamilyand Iinaplacewherewedidnotknowwhattodo,butweeventuallygotoutofit,andcontinuedon withourlife.Wealwaysrememberedthehardworkingparentswehad,andthehardworking motherwestillhadIamresilientandgotbackonmyfeetandcontinuedtoattendschool,graduated elementaryschool,andwillsoongraduatefromhighschool.Although,Ihavegonethroughmany difficultiesithasmademeworkharderasanindividualandchoosemycareerchoiceatanearly age.BeingthatIwasveryintotheheartatayoungage,andmyfatherpassingfromaheartdisease, IalwaysknewIwantedtostudycardiology,andwillsomedaysoonbecomeacardiologist.Being thatmymotherhasattendedmedicalschoolseveraltimes,Ifirsthandedlyhaveseenhowdifficultit canbe.Ihavebeentoldbymanypeopletopickadifferentprofessionbecauseofthat;Butbecause ofhowpassionateIamaboutcardiologyandtheamountoftimesIhaveexperiencedpeopledeal withheartproblemshasassuredmethatIhavechosetherightprofessionIbeingavery conscientiouspersonhashasalsoassuredmethatIwillbeabletotacklemedicalschoolandbecome acardiologist.IbelievethatthefirststepsofbecomingacardiologististhatIhavepersonally experiencedpeoplesufferfrom
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Memoir
Everyonehastheirownstories,nomatteritismeaningfulornotitistheirlifeandtheirmemories. WhenItoldtowriteamemoiraboutlanguages,Icouldnotcomeupaboutanyideas.So,Iask Professorforhelp,myProfessortoldusthateveryonehastheirownstoriesanditisinteresting, becausethatisyourexperiencesnotoursPeopleliketohearstories,becauseitisnottheir experiencesandtheywanttoknowwhathaveyoubeenthrough.Herearelittlestoriesaboutmyself. IwasbornandgrowupinChina,Tianjin,abigcitywherejustanhourawayfromBeijing.Since mymomwantstogivemeabetterlivingenvironment,andbetterchanceofeducation;so,we decidedtomovetoUS.WhenImovedtotheUSin2012,Iwasonlysixteenyearsoldandbarely spokeanyEnglish.EvenIhadlearnedEnglishforallmyschoollifeinChina,Istilldidn't understandwhenothertalkingtome.Thenewlifewastotallydifferent,itwastoughand challengingforme.Thenewlanguageenvironmentandculturedifferencesweregivingmeahard timetofitintothiscountryWhenIfirstcametoChicago;MotherandIwentthroughagreat amountoftroublestryingtoenrollmeinahighschool.Manyschoolsturnedmedownbecauseof mylackofEnglishskills.TheywrotemealetterandsendmetoanESLclassatacommunity college.
Assoonasmymothersettledmedowninasmallapartment,sheleftmetoworkinanotherstate. Sheneedstomakemoneytosupportmeandourfamily,soIhavenochoicetolivealonebymyself Iwasfacingthechallengeoffendingformyselfinatotallystrangeenvironment,whereIdidn't knowenoughEnglishtoaskforhelp.WhenIwasinChina,Ineverhadtocook,shopforgroceries, andwalktoschoolForthefirsttimeinmylife,IhadtodoeverythingbymyselfIhadsolittle moneythatIcouldnotaffordtoeatatrestaurantseveryday.Therefore,Ihadnochoicebuttocook formyself.Atfirst,mymotherwastheonlypersonIcanaskforadvice.Butwhenitcameto practice,itfelttentimesharderthanitsoundstome.Irememberpracticingcuttingonpotatoes.My leftfingerswereoftenwrappedwithBand–Aids.ButIdisregardedthepainandkeptpracticingit
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MiguelHuertaPeriod1September8,2010EducationalAutobiographyAlotofpeoplethink educationisjustsomethingyougetinschool,butinrealityeducationcomesfromdifferentplaces andpeoplenotjustschoolandteachers.Forexample,waybeforeIstartedschoolIwasalready beingeducatedbymyparents,theytaughtmehowtoeat,behave,usethebathroom,talk,andalot ofotherthingsthathelpoutinlifeIstartedmyeducationalcareerinJohnFKennedyElementaryI don'treallyremembermyyearstherebecauseIonlywentthereforKindergartenand1stgrade. Afterthat,IwenttoSepulvedaElementary.ThatwasalearningexperiencebecauseIhadto basicallybeonmyownforacoupleofdayssinceIwasthenewshowmorecontent Sadlytosay,Ididn'treallyhaveateacherinmiddleschoolthatmadeabigimpactinmylifebutI maturedonmyownandgotmystufftogetherandputmyworkfirstandgirlssecond.WhenI graduated8thgradeIwassoexcitedbecauseIhadaccomplishedsomethingspecialbutIknewthat wasn'ttheendbutinfactabeginningtoanevenbiggerobstacle,highschool.Istillrememberonthe dayofgraduationmymomwentalonebecausemydadwasworkingandafterItoldherthatthis wasn'tthelasttimeshewouldseemewalkingdownforadiplomabecauseincouplemoreyearsI wouldbedoingitagain.Thatwasabigdealbecauseshenevergraduatedhighschoolneitherdidmy dadbecausemymomhadmeandtheyhadtocareforme.ThenfinallyImadeittohighschool. ThiswastheplacewhereeverythingIlearneduptonowwouldhelpme.My9thgradeyearwas reallygoodImetnewfriendsthatIstilltalkto,gotgoodgradesbutotherthanthatitwasanormal year.WhenIwentto10thgradeIwasinAOF(AcademyofFinance)orGlobal.AtfirstIwasa littleoptimisticaboutbeinginitbecauseIdidn'treallyknowalotofpeoplebutIstayedbecauseI wasalittlecuriousaboutthewholebusinessstuffgoingoninthereItwasagooddecisiontostay becauseIreallyenjoyallthebusinessrelatedworkandIamlookingforwardtoevenhavingsome sortofabusinesscareerlateroninlife.Theteacherthatreallymadeanimpactonmeistheteacher forwhomI
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8,989miles,thatisthedistancethatseparatesmefromahugepartofwhoiam.Iwasbornin Zimbabwe,Africa.MydadmovedtotheUSAwheniwasaboutfourorfivetohaveachanceofthe "AmericanDream."Helivedinthestatesonhisownsothatwewouldjoinhimlater.Fouryears laterin2009therestofthefamilyjoinedhim.WelivedalltogetherinAtlantaGeorgiaforayear thenin2010wemovedtoNewtonKansasandhavebeenhereeversince Ihaveonebrother,Lincolnwhoissevenyearsolderthanme.Ijustturnedseventeenthislate october.MydadisoneofthepastorsatWhitestoneMennoniteChurch.Heisstillgoingtoschool parttimeandworkingparttimeMymombrokeherbackafewyearsbacksoshecouldn'tbea CNAanymore.Insteadshedidwhatshelovedwhichwasopenupherclothingstore,Moyo Clothing.IalwayssaidthatcomingtoAmericawasacurseandablessing.Istruggledimmensely whenIfirstcameandstilldosometimes.Beinginatotallyshowmorecontent
Sincejunioryear,asIparticipateddaybydayinJagIlearnedthevaluablelessonthatit'snotalways theconcreteskillsweneedinlifebutalsotheabstractandoftenundefinedskillsthatcanequally shapeustobebetterpeople.Jaghasgivenmethatopportunitytoseetherelationshipbetweenlife skillsandsuccess.Interwovenintheclassisalotoffactorsthathavemadearichdepositinmylife. Theseincludemotivation,encouragement,supportwhichweallneedashumanbeingstounleash thebestin
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Assignment1–AcademicAutobiographyGrowinguponasmallfarminTuttle,Oklahoma,my familyknewmoreaboutgrowingcropsandraisingcowsthanfocusingonacademics.Therewereno issueswithlearningthefarmlife,butacademicallymyfamilywasnotthebrightestgroupof individualswhenitcametoacademics.EarlyoninlifeIunderstoodIdidnotwanttogrowupa farmerliketherestofmyfamilyIenjoybeingonthefarm,butmychoicetomoveoutsideofthe boxwasdifferentthananyofmyotherfamilymembers.Iamyourbasicoutcastofthefamilywho choseadifferentrouteinlife.
Asayoungchild,mymotherbouncedfrommarriagetomarriageuntilIwasnineyearsoldMy fatherchosenottobepartofmylife,so,growingupwastoughwithoutafatherfigureinmylife wastough.Iattendedseveraldifferentschools,andasayoungchildattendingOklahomaCity schoolswearingcowboybootsandhatIdidn'tnotalwaysfitin.In1987,mymotherchosetomove closertoourimmediatefamilyinTuttle,Oklahoma.IstartedattendingAmber–Pocassetschool district,smallschooldistrictsouthofTuttleOklahoma,andfinishedmygeneraleducation(4th–12th).ThereisalargedifferencewhencomparingOklahomaCityschooldistricttoAmber–Pocasset schoolswhichistwotownscombinedintoone.TheelementaryschoolwasinthetownofPocasset (K–6th)andthehighschool(7th–12th)wasinAmber.Movingtoasmallerschooldistrictequals smallclass
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Growingupinaspiritualblackhome,thetopicsofsexualityandgenderarebarelydiscussed,andif thebookthatmymomboughtmewhenshecouldn'tfindthewordstoteachmeaboutsexherself sayanything,thenit'seasytoseehowIwasshelteredfrommostthingsasachild.Despitehaving sexedinmiddleschool,Istilldidn'tknowmuchaboutanythingoutsideofthoseveryawkwardand gigglefilledhealthclassesItwasn'tuntilmybestfriendpulledmeasideafterclassintothe bathroomandwhisperedinmyearthatshewasgay,thatit'devencrossmymindthatmaybeI wasn'tasstraightasIthought.Eventhenhercomingouttomewasanawkward.Picturethis,two younggirlsawkwardlystaringateachotherinadirtymiddleschoolshowmorecontent Somenightsyoufeeldirtyforthinkingthewaythatyoudo.Whenyourparentsmakecommentsnot knowingthatthey'rebackhandstotheface,youbegintoquestionyourworthwhenstaringinthe mirror,andnightswhentheyourselfhatredpeaksitsuglyheadfromaroundthecorner,youareleft beggingtoGodforthingstobedifferent.Howeveronsomedaysyoutakestepsforwardinsteadof fallingback
ThoughIdon'tparticipateinmyschool'sGSAIstillhavefriendsthatIcanrelyonwhentimesget rough.Mygaybestfriendholdsmethroughmytearsandhelpsmelearntolovemyself.AndwhileI can'tshowhertomyparents,onsomenightsIholdthegirlinmyclosetandItellherthatsheis beautifulforwhosheisandwesmiletogetherreadytofaceanewday.Insecret,sheandIlove whoeverwewantandwefeelbeautifulfor
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OnesunnydaymanyyearsagointheparkinglotofHussonUniversityacarcomestoasudden stop.Thedoorswingsopensandoutstepsayoungwomannamed,HeatherPatten.It'sthefirstday ofcollegeandshecanfeelthebutterfliesfranticlyswarmingaroundinherstomach."Husson Universityisabigplaceespeciallyifyoudon'tknowanyonethereandhavenocluewhereyour classesare"Eventually,likeanyplace,Heathergotusedtothemanybuildingsandhugecampus Shewasatagreatplaceinherlife,finallyshewasownherown.Shegraduatedhighschool10thout ofherclass,andgotherwishtogotoacollegeclosetohome.
"Ididn'twanttogoawayforcollege"HeatherstatedAtthetimeshelivedinGlenburn,Maineso heroptionswerelimited.TheonlytwocollegesthatcaughthereyewereHusson,becauseithada physicaltherapyprogram,andtheUniversityofMainebecauseitwasalittlelessexpensiveandshe couldstudytheretobecomeateacher."IappliedforbothandgotacceptedintobothofthemsoI decidedthatIwouldtryphysicaltherapybecauseitwasharderbutifIdidn'tlikeitIwouldswitch andbecomeateacher"AnotherreasonHeatherleanedtowardsgoingtoHussonandbecominga physicaltherapistisbecausewhenshewasinhighschoolherguidancecounselortoldherthatshe wasnotsmartenoughtogointophysicaltherapyschool.Herguidancecounseloralsotoldhereven ifshedidshewouldn'tmakeitintotheschoolshewouldn't
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MystorybeginsonAugust31,1999whenIwasborninBethIsraelHospital,fromthereIwas raisedinAndover,Massachusettsmywholelife.IamhalfJapaneseasmymotherimmigratedfrom JapantotheUnitedStateswhenshemetmyfatherduringcollege.MyfatherbeingaCaucasian malecreatedaninterracialfamilythatIwasraised.Iwenttoatechnicalschoolwhereitwas predominatelyaHispanicculturewheremuchofthestudentswerebilingualComingfromafamily thatissolelynotoneraceandgoingtoaschoolwheremanystudentssharedadifferentculture allowedformetogetauniqueviewofsociety.Myfamilywhichincludesmymother,fatherand sisterallliveinapredominatelywhiteupperclasstownLifewasaloteasierformeasIwasapart oftheupper–classcommunityinthetown.Beingapartoftheuppermiddleclassallowedmeto attendanoutofstatecollege.Ontheotherhand,manyofmyfriendsfromschoolstayedin Massachusettstoattendedcommunitycollegeandotherinstatecollegesasitisalessofafinancial burden.Manyofthestudentattendedmyhighschoolandwenttothosecollegeswere predominatelyHispanicculturallyAstheywereLatino,IappearedtothemasagenericAsianWith thiscamestereotypessuchastheassumptionthatIwas...showmorecontent...
NotbeingapartofthatculturewasdifficultasmanyofthestudentsspokeSpanishbutIcouldnever understandthem.EvenwhenIwasonthesamesoccerteamwiththemtheystillspokeSpanishto eachother,althoughsomeonewouldusuallytrytotranslateforme.IfeltlikeaburdentothemasI mostlyhadtodependonthemforcommunicationbetweenothersOneexampleofthiswasduringa gamewherethegoalietoldmetoleavetheballinSpanish,butbecauseIdidn'tunderstandhimI kickedtheballcausingmygoalietoleavethenetandtheotherteamscored.Theylatertoldmewhat thatword
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NaomiLara GED503–Summer2015
RacialAutobiography:ReflectiveEssayIwasalwaysreallyproudtobefromCompton,CA.The richracialandculturalhistoryoftheHubCityhashadamajorimpactonmanyaspectsofmylife andispartofmyidentityMymotherisaMexican–American,shewasborninTijuanaandher familymovedtoComptonin1962whenshewasfive.MydadwasborninColoradoandhisfamily settledinComptonin1961whenhewasfour.Myparentswereinthesamekindergartenclassat JeffersonElementaryschoolandalthoughtheydidn'tstartdatinguntiltheywereintheir20's,they definitelyhelpedeachothersurvivetheracialinjusticesandviolencethatpermeatedallfacetsof theireducationalexperienceinComptonshowmorecontent
IalwaysidentifiedmyselfasMexicanbecausetechnicallyIwasmostlyMexican,butIdidn'tspeak SpanishandwasneverreallyacceptedbymySpanishspeakingpeers.Ialsoremembernotwanting tobeidentifiedasWhite,IwasanAmericanbutIdidn'twanttobecalledWhiteIidolizedMartin LutherKingJr.asayoungchild,andIrememberfeelingdeeplymovedandfundamentallychanged afterseeingthefirstimagesofthecivilrightsmovementduringBlackhistorymonth.ThenI rememberstartingtowonderwhyIalwayssawthesamevideosandlearnedthesamelessonseach yearduringFebruaryandIbegantoquestionthings.Iremembergettingsoangryatmyown ignoranceofthehistoryofracisminthiscountryduringmyfirstmulti–culturalhistoryclassatCal StateLongBeach.IrealizedhowmuchIwasn'tlearninginschoolandthatInevergotanauthentic versionofhistoryfromanygroupotherthanthedominantWhiteculture.Itwasaneyeopening experienceandithadaprofoundimpactonmeIlearnedtoembracebeinganAmericanaslongasI waswillingtocommittocontinuouslyquestioningandchallengingthecurrentpowerstructuresin placeandworktoexposetheinstitutionalizedracismthatcontinuestoplagueourpublic
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Myeducationalautobiographyconsistsofmytimefrommyearlydaysinelementaryschooluntil thedayIgraduatedfromtheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia.Ihadmanygreatexperiencesaswell assomedreadfulones.TheexperiencesfrommyeducationalcareerwillmoldtheteacherIwill becomeinthefuture.MyelementaryschoolsyearswerespentatKenterCanyonElementary.I remembermyveryfirstteacherinKindergarten,MrsG,shewasverykindtoallherstudentsHer compassiontowardsstudentswhowerescaredtobeawayfromtheirparentsforthefirsttimewas extraordinary.AnothermemoryIhaveatKenterwaswhen,Ms.Montgomery,whowasinchargeof thecafeteriawouldcometoourfifthgradeclasstodiscussherlifeexperiencesduringthecivil rightsmovement.Mr.Osay,myteacherwouldletherspeaktousdirectlyandIthoughtitwas incrediblethatshewasafewinchesawayfromDr.KingwhentheymarchedonWashington.Mr. Osaywasagreatteacher,butIalsorecallamomentwhenoneofthefemalestudentswrotemea note.Mr.Osay,tookthenotefrommyhand,gatheredtheclasstogether,andreaditaloud.Iwas humiliatedandIdidnotwanttogobacktoschoolThisisanexperienceIwillrememberwhenIam ateacher,toensuremystudentsfeelsafeandwelcomedatalltimesinmyclass.Mymiddleschool yearswerespentatPaulRevereMiddleSchool.MysixthgradeEnglishteacher,Ms.Schwartz,was thefirstteacher
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