The first day of field is always a nerve-wracking day for me—it will forever be; it indicates the start of a new teaching experience—an unpredictable experience.On February 9, 2016, I began a new teaching journey at Lincoln Middle School, in Kearny, New Jersey.Getting the opportunity to gain teaching experience in an urban school setting was a dream come true, especially since in the future, I plan to teach middle/high school English in an urban area. In addition, this field setting gave me the opportunity to work with urban students, as a pre-service teacher, as well as it enabled me to expand my knowledge regarding the teaching profession in an urban school district.

Walking through the doors of Lincoln Middle School was nerve-wracking for me; however, I was also excited, mainly because I had waited a long time to get the opportunity to work with urban students. Seeing urban students succeed in the world of academics, as well as in the professional world is one my ultimate goals in the future— as an educator. Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." To me, in today's world seeking a higher education is crucial, especially if one plans to live a stable lifestyle—personally and financially. Nonetheless, many may argue that obtaining an education is not the key to a successful future— I respect their opinion.Yet, as an urban student here at Felician University, I consider education the "golden key" to success, predominantly because it awards one with an education that cannot be taken away.In addition, to me, Lincoln Middle School is a welcoming and diverse environment— it is my home. While walking into my cooperating teacher's classroom, I began to feel nervous. However, I did not feel like an outsider— I felt at home. My cooperating teacher and I spent the first two class periods talking about the field of education, his students, and the PARCC assessment (a state assessment). After our long conversation, I then asked my cooperating teacher the following question: Do your students write well? My cooperating teacher then goes on to tell me the following: "they are poor writers." My cooperating teacher's response shocked me, to a certain extent; however, after reading writing samples, my brain did not know how to react or what to say. The school day progressed and I kept asking myself the following questions:How did these students progress to the seventh grade with such poor writing? Who should be blamed? It is important for both current and future educators to be aware that the teaching profession will consist of stressful moments like this; yet, it is also vital to keep in mind that teachers are teachers for two reasons— to educate young minds and to make a difference in the world of education.

Throughout the school day, I had the opportunity to meet a culturally diverse group of students.This made my field setting standout, as well as made me feel comfortable and welcomed, mainly because I grew up and went to school in a very similar environment. In addition, according to the New Jersey Demographics about 41,837 people reside in Kearny, New Jersey.When I think of urban cities and towns, I think of cultural diversity and poverty.The largest Kearny racial/ethnic groups are Hispanic (44.9%) followed by White (43.9%) and Asian (4.5%). In Lincoln Middle School, you will see the culturally diverse interaction among the Hispanics, Whites, and African-Americans— this reminds me of my high school years. From 2010-2014, I attended a culturally diverse high school in Newark, New Jersey— Science Park High School. My experience at Lincoln Middle School, as a pre-service teacher, gave me the chance to relive my high school experience. Nevertheless, 10.8% of Kearny residents live in poverty. To me, it is important for a pre-service teacher to have background knowledge, specifically the demographics of the town or city in which he or she is assigned to for their fieldwork. Today, I am able to conclude that the students who are living in poverty will most likely struggle throughout their academic career; they are in need of guidance and motivation throughout their long and stressful education journey. To me, as a citizen and future educator, one of my ultimate dreams is to see the poverty rate decrease in urban areas.

Being a pre-service teacher is allowing me to gain experience, as well as preparing me for my future classroom. During my first day of field, I had the chance to administer a quiz and a test with a substitute teacher. My cooperating teacher was attending a workshop during the last periods of the school day. Proctoring an exam for seventh graders is not an easy task, especially when certain students do not listen and refuse to complete their exam in a quiet and orderly fashioned manner. However, at the end of the day, I felt accomplished, mainly because not every pre-service teacher gets the opportunity to proctor an exam during their first day of field. My teaching experience at Lincoln Middle School was a positive and unforgettable experience. Urban students are capable and have the power to succeed academically and professionally!