I have always enjoyed attending school. I remembered going to elementary school with my oldest sister who is six years older than I. I started going with her when she was in third grade. Initially, my mom and sister did not want me to go to school. I wanted to go though, so I would follow my sister and leave the house without telling anyone. My sister would noticed that I was in school when she would see me on campus. Because I was already there, she would have no choice but to allow me to be in school with her because she would not have enough time to take me back home without missing school.
By the time I enrolled in elementary school, my three older brothers were enrolled as well. Two of the three were held back couple of times. They were never as interested in school as I was. The school and my parents did not have the resources to assist them in ensuring that they were getting the help they needed to complete elementary school. Thinking back about this journey makes me upset because my brothers were not the only ones who did not receive a proper education. My oldest brother decided to dropped out when he was in third grade. He was about twelve years of age at that time. As a result of the lack of support by teachers, parents, and his home country, he lacks knowledge in reading and writing, and is unfortunately illiterate.
The elementary school was located three miles away from my parents house. It consisted of two classrooms and two teachers only. The teachers would come from the city and stay at a near by house during the week. Each teacher taught three grade levels at a time. One would teach first through third grade, and the other would teach fourth through sixth grade. Each teacher would have about fifty or so students. As mentioned, the school only had two staff--the teachers. There was no principal.
The six years that I was at the elementary school taught me a lesson that I greatly appreciate, and I believe that I witnessed many events that made me who I am now. I think this school significantly influenced me to become a teacher.
It is a custom in my hometown, which is roughly forty miles from the nearest city, to work in the field of agriculture full time right after completing elementary school. This is what I did after I completed my elementary studies. I wished I had gone to middle school, but I couldn’t because my parents could not afford it since we had to pay to go to middle school. Moreover, I would have had to pay for transportation, as well as walk ten miles to the bus stop one way.
I was out of school for three years working in the fields until my father brought our family to the United States. I asked my mother enroll me in school. Had I not, I do not think she would have done it. My parents always told me to “just work, don’t go to school”. My brothers or older sister did not received an American education. I am quite glad I did.
My first year in high school was scary for many reasons. I was in a new country where I did not speak the language or have the typical resources for education. I wore the same clothes twice or more per week. I lived with my family of eight in a one bedroom apartment. My parents couldn’t afford to purchased school supplies. To help fund my educational needs, I began working by mowing lawns with an uncle who would pay me $20 dollars per day. I used that money very wisely. I bought school supplies and new clothes throughout the years. Years later, my mother told me that she and dad did not want me to go to school because they could not afford my education.
I had a horrible time adjusting the first year, but then I started enjoying my education. I ensured that I was always engaged in classes even if they were very difficult to comprehend. One day, I began writing down words and phrases that caught my attention or that I did not understand. I would write them phonetically in spanish and then, I would read it to my ELD teacher who would tell me the meaning. I would also carry an English-to-Spanish dictionary with me to translate unknown vocabulary words that I would encounter in textbooks.
I believe that every student should have equal access to an education. They should be giving the tools that are necessary for success. As trite as it may sound, children are indeed the future. We should make it a top priority to support, guide, nourish, and educate them.