If you had asked me 10 years ago what my career of choice would be, I would have told you a pediatrician. At that time, I was a senior in high school adamant on taking a year off before entering college to figure out my game plan. This so-called game plan was never configured because I had lost my grandmother about six months after graduating, and spent the year working a part-time job (my first job ever) and trying to figure out the whole college application and financial aid process as a first-generation college student.
I eventually ended up at a recently-opened and -accredited community college where I changed my major three different times within two years. Honestly, I had no guidance and did not know what to study in order to go to medical school. My default choice for a major was biology. However, when I took a writing composition class, I quickly fell in love with writing and renewed my love for reading. This was the beginning of my college major battle. Did I mention that I changed my major three different times within two years? I went from undeclared to Biology to English back to Biology. I remained a Biology major while still taking English Lit classes as I transferred to another community college back in my hometown and as I finally transferred to a four-year university. However, it was at my now-alma-mater that my college major battle ended. Physics was the cause of death of my Biology major. My love for English Literature won the battle and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have improved as a reader, writer, and public speaker because of my major.
The only problem was that I had no idea what I wanted to do after I graduated from college. I toyed with the idea of going to law school; but that idea dissipated the longer I worked for a local elected official. During a period of feeling lost and confused, I reflected on my interests and decided to become a teacher. Most of my family and friends were supportive of this choice, but some asked, “Why?” and said, “You are not going to make any money.” Be advised not to tell someone who chooses to work in the public sector that they will not make any money. I can guarantee you they know this and, more than likely, they did not choose this field because they were looking to make money.
After making the decision to become a teacher, I started researching Master’s programs in education from Stanford to the University of San Diego (USD), where I am currently enrolled. I fell in love with USD’s program during their Fall Open House, which happened to be on my birthday, when they began to tout their program’s focus on social justice and equity in education. It also helped that this is the institution where I received my B.A. in English. I was immediately sold on the idea of being able to create an inclusive, welcoming, and multicultural classroom in the midst of a changing education system that has a focus on standardized tests and Common Core.
I have only been in my program for one semester, but I already feel that I have transformed into an educator. From learning theories in the classroom to implementing lesson plans with the aid of my cooperating teacher, I realize I have made the right decision for myself. I still have a lot to learn. I am also anxiously waiting to see how President Trump’s troubling nominee for Education Secretary is going to pan out. Everything that I believe the public school system should be for its students (specifically its students of color) seems to be in jeopardy with Betsy DeVos. Public education must work for all its students, not just a few. We cannot write off public schools that aren’t working and think the only way to solve their issues is to open a charter school or offer vouchers for students to attend private institutions. Although deciding to attend another school via school choice is a viable option, it is not the only option. We must place focus on making our public schools better for the communities they serve. This starts by having social justice educators in the classroom who have a passion for not only the subject they teach, but also the people they teach. I hope to be this kind of educator and look forward to the day that I have my own classroom.
