"When I look at my parents, I see their younger selves: the ones who never got the chance
to get an education because they had to raise a family. Every day, I see them struggle because of their lack of English. At only 23 years old, they picked up their life in Thailand and moved my family to the United States to ensure that their five children would get an education.
While I never had the pleasures of private tutors and expensive summer camps - simply
because my family could not afford it - my parents ensured I participated in free activities that would support my growth and limit the impact of the opportunity and achievement gaps.
Every summer in elementary school, I attended the free programming provided by my school district, taking core classes to ensure that I would not lose my skills. As soon as I began middle school, I applied for summer opportunities that would help prepare me for college and once I hit high school, my calendar was filled with meetings of all the different programs that I had become involved in. My life became surrounded by enriching activities and relationships. I’ve worked countless hours, cleaning bathrooms in a recreational center or interning at the Ramsey County Courthouse with the deputy criminal justice attorney. I have also devoted time to programs such as Breakthrough Twin Cities, Saint Paul Youth Commission, Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America, and Warrior Leadership Academy.
I want to become an educator to combine my leadership skills and desire to help students,
to close the opportunity and achievement gap for students who come from similar background as mine. I have received all of my education through the Saint Paul Public Schools district. My enjoyment of school began when I was in Pre-Kindergarten at Jackson Elementary. I had two Hmong female teachers who inspired and motivated me to learn. As a five year old, it excited me that my teachers looked like me because I saw that if they could succeed, then so could I. However, all of my teachers for the next 13 years would be white. Teachers of color help foster connections and comfortability with students of color. These are aspects that I was missing from my relationships with my white teachers and is one of the many reasons why it is important that there are more teachers of color as it will not only be beneficial to students of color but white students as well.
I hope to be one of those future educators of color and benefit students on their path to
higher education by ensuring that they receive opportunities that will allow them to strive for
their versions of greatness, ultimately closing the opportunity and achievement gap one student at a time. Despite my adversities as a low income first generation Hmong woman, I have overcome every challenge. I will empower youth to conquer their obstacles as I did mine."
No comments:
Post a Comment