Personal Narrative: My Face-To-Face Interview At Harlingen High School

When it comes to sports my family has many ties to Middletown High School South. In the Going as far back as the 1980’s when my Dad attended the same high school. He was a standout wrestler for the team and was given multiple scholarships to wrestle in college. My family name is everywhere within the trophy rooms and walls of Middletown South. I am the youngest of three children with two older sisters coming through high school before me. Both of my sisters were outstanding runners for Middletown South and are now running on collegiate levels. Then there is me following in my dad 's footsteps, trying to leave my mark in Middletown South 's wrestling history.

When coming to Arcadia High School I didn’t know what to feel like, would I say frightened, worried, or energized? For this reason I decided that I felt confused. I was a bit stressed at the thought of getting bad grades. I entered school and saw what looked like a beehive of people going where they needed to go. So like many freshmen on their first day I got lost looking for my first class, it was such a big school and many of the halls weren’t even in alphabetical order. I wound up asking one of the construction workers and they told me that it was “over there”. I didn’t understand because they didn’t point in any direction, I started walking around the corner and saw the same construction worker again, I asked him again and this time he

For my educator one-on-one assignment, I choose to interview Sara Dotty, who is my host teacher at Marcy Open School. When I was given this assignment, I started to think of who I could interview and I was thinking of my high school teachers.But then I started to think how I could connect more with the 3 grade students that I’m working with, and how I could get to know them better. So, I decided to interview Sara because I thought that if I get to know my host teacher better I will be able to connect with the students more.

As I traveled through each grade of the Croton-Harmon High School, my personal and academic goals helped to me to really flourish. These goals may have varied from year to year because a freshman is a little different from a senior, but they basically had all the same concept: I wanted to strive in school to be the best all-around student I could be, constantly stay focused and immerse myself in the Croton community. By setting my expectations and goals very high, I could flourish academically and really work to my full potential.

I’ll never forget how I felt the first time I walked into Prairie Ridge High School. I was surrounded by approximately sixteen hundred other students and I knew exactly none of them. I had never been that alone before and when I walked through the cafeteria doors, I felt the first seed of doubt that maybe I should have stayed in Union, with my mom. At that moment, I wanted to turn around and run out of Prairie Ridge, hop in the car, and drive the four hundred miles back to my friends, my teammates, and the majority of my family. Instead, I took a deep breath and sat down.

I am pursing a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. I am passionate about education and excited to share the joy of learning with students. The perspective of wonder and sense of excitement that children bring into education motivates me daily. Teaching can leave a lasting impression in a child’s life and offers a special opportunity to shape the bright young minds of future generations. While many professions can be impactful, I believe the qualities of the person in the career position to be the most influential. The integrity I possess and genuine character I have reveals my authentic positive outlook on life. I aspire to be the voice that encourages students to obtain a life changing education that will aid them in their journey. I desire to be a teacher that takes time out of my day to have meaningful minutes in a student’s life and to represent the picture of a positive role- model. I hope to leave a lasting impact by creating a caring atmosphere that allows students to express themselves, discover knowledge, and obtain their fullest potential confidently!

I’m not an orator, nor am I a scholar. Though I do enjoy a good debate and engaging in intellectual conversations ; I feel like I am never “good-enough”.

I moved to Kansas City, Kansas seven years ago. It all started when I was in 6th grade with these girls. I was a different race then them. They thought it would be cool to mess and try to get rid of the white girl. One day, they decided to try everything they possibly can to get me kicked out. It was the day of gym. There was basketballs and volleyballs. As far as in the corner it could be, there was tetherball. I thought it would be fun to go and join them. Try and make friends, but it was not like that for them. The ball came around to the girls’ side and Boom. My face was bloody as it ever could be. My glasses were thrown off my face, my eyes were starting to bruise and finally, I could barely see out of my eyes. It went on for weeks after weeks.

Friday night, around 12:00 am, Mason Stokes and Brian Kasaba were around a wooded, shallow grave area off Clemson road, when they saw the skeletal remains of a body, that was revealed by heavy rain, and eroded soil.

As a junior I moved from Ryan HIgh School to Braswell High School due to my zoning with the new school. Braswell High School was a brand new high school. I attended the first year it was open in which the highest grade level they offered was juniors. Most of the students moved from their old high schools to Braswell were devastated due to the strong school spirit at their previous schools. The administration at Braswell attempted to inspire new school spirit in all the students especially the junior class. Most of the junior class were very against this idea at first including myself.

My time at Plainville High School has been the best four years of my life. I have always had a strong work ethic and I put 100% into everything I do; whether it be in the classroom or outside. My grades have been impeccable my past 4 years. I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA while enrolling in AP and honors classes. These classes give substantial homework but with strategic time management, I find a way to cope with the large workflow. Being the editor of the yearbook and photographer for the school demonstrates my good work ethic. Being diligent about getting projects done before deadlines only prove my candidacy for this scholarship.

Lincoln Middle School is an interesting and fun place to be. It’s set up like

“Are you sure you have everything?” my mom asked one last time. I smiled and nodded yes for the fifth time. My mom, dad, and half-asleep little sister walked with me out of the small conference room along with other sad, but proud families. This was the last time I would see my family this summer for I was participating in the UCLA High School Summer Research Program (HSSRP). My dad looked at me and grinned. He held his hand out and we fist bumped. “Good Luck,” he said in a calm tone. After saying bye to my mom once more, we went our separate ways and my new challenge had begun.

TEACH is a documentary that follows four educators that vary in subject, grade, background, personality, and teaching style. This selection is so diverse in an attempt to represent all members of the profession. While it isn’t accurate in terms of attitude or statistically, it covers many demographics. Each of these teachers was followed for an entire school year. The footage documented everything from the challenges the teachers faced everyday to the “ah-ha” moments when a student makes sense of something that they’ve struggled with for a long time. The goal of filming everything was to show a realistic perspective of teaching in challenging places. It’s supposed to show the hard parts and the rewards that make it worthwhile. It is a very inspiring piece that could probably make anyone want to be a teacher, at least while they’re watching it.

Pedagogy is defined as the methods and practice of teaching in academics or theory. One of the first examples that can come to mind is teachers. They spend most of their lives helping enrich the minds of their students. The result of their teachings to prepare students for what lies ahead of them. Another less obvious example of this would be parents or guardians. Day in and day out they are helping guide and mentor their children to learn about the facts or lessons of life. Walt Whitman is a great example of a pedagogist. He was an exemplary teacher and strived to further expand the minds of those he taught. Even today, Whitman is teaching young adults in room 303 about different perspectives and ways of looking at things. “A great teacher takes an interest a student has and helps turn it into a passion making educational connections that will potentially last a lifetime,” Derrick Meador once wrote. Furthermore, Walt Whitman was a great man of pedagogy, which can be seen in Song of Myself and “Leaves of Grass”.