My Power Of Education

My granny was the only person in my family to have a college degree. I am the second because of her. From middle school on we talked about college, where I would go, and what I would do when I grew up. Parents encourage careers that lead to the greatest profit, mine were no different. My granny never encouraged me to choose a career based on the profit. She only encouraged me to choose what made me happy. Life had it’s own plan and some things changed how my educational journey would pan out, but that didn’t make it impossible. Because of her I knew anything was

Annika’s natural propensity towards academic success has always placed me in a position of comparison; though three years younger, I would strive to excel as she did. Even if I couldn’t reach her level, the pressure motivated me to do my best, and her assuring and calm demeanor would remind me that there’s always another shot. Learning from her habits and attitude gave me the guidance to succeed on my own and be proud of my accomplishments; my inductance into National Honor Society proved to me that the pressure of having someone to look up to can be a supportive force rather than a debilitating grievance. Similarly, Jaineel’s natural athletic ability in every sport he pursued from basketball to karate pushed me to perform my best in tennis. His determination to live by a schedule in order to see progress gave me the foresight to not give up when I wanted to throw in the towel, and his love for sports reminds me of why I continue to play tennis even today.  Living with 8 other perspectives to a situation is a true blessing. If there is ever a dilemma in my life, everyone will share his or her opinion but support me no matter which direction I choose. Growing up with my family has definitely been a unique experience, but I would never change it for the world. My home gives me strength, assurance, stability, laughter, and love as I wake up to 8 people banging on my bedroom door every morning ready to

Throughout life I’ve experienced a rather unpleasant childhood with the absence of my guiding figures: my parents. Seeing them rush in and out of the house to go to the hospital with my younger brother shaped me in a way nothing else could have. It made me who I am today, as well as aspired me towards what I want to be one day.

I grew up in an impoverished community with a lack of an educational culture. As I faced academic and financial obstacles, I realized how important education is. I am the first person in my family to pursue a higher education at a four year university. After graduating high school in June of 2016, I aspire to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and specialize in pediatrics.

Perseverance is a trait that is needed throughout life. In the book, Call of the Wild, Buck has to adapt to a new lifestyle in the frosty Yukon, unlike his previous life in sunny California. He is put to the test of survival and maturity. Like Buck, my mom has to use perseverance to get through a time in her life where she struggled, but her journey was much less extreme. She went back to college for her master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner, while dealing with her job, money, and more importantly, her family.

When I was younger, both my mother and father would do their best to explain the importance of education for a better future, and at a very young age I did my very best to understand. In high school there was a certain eminence to having a job and I was able to enjoy that towards the end of high school; however it quickly changed as I entered the ranks of adulthood. Working at a family restaurant was an interesting experience for me, but it did not compare to what it was like working as a CAPS youth leader it taught me to be independent and valuable lessons I will be able to use throughout life.

From a young age, I was taught that education is paramount. Various members of my immediate and extended family work as educators. Many summers I have spent in my mother’s school helping her prepare her classroom, and I enjoy

Neither of my parents attended college, but my sister became a nurse and created a glass ceiling that I never thought I would be able to shatter. As I was pushed towards a nursing degree and told that it was “good enough” I failed and blundered through my first few years of college. I didn’t want to be a nurse and I knew that in my heart I wouldn’t be happy with the profession, so I took a break and became a nanny for a child with autism. I traveled the world with this little boy and after two years had passed I became more confident and ready to fight for my dreams.

“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.” (Proverb 22:15, English Standard Version)

Despite playing the role of protector, there was no role that I enjoyed more than being able to help my siblings further their education, ensuring that their homework and mine was completed, accurate and ready for my mother’s review upon her return home from work. I was determined to transfer my passion for learning, and education in general, to my siblings and anyone in my household who would listen, which might have contributed to the fact that all but one of my siblings went on to attend and graduate from college. For me, getting an education wasn’t an option, it was the only option, a sentiment that I relentlessly stressed to my siblings, and my mother, who though a high school dropout at one point, went on to pursue and receive several college degrees later in life. At the age of 12, I took on my first job, which was essentially an entrepreneurial endeavor. My brothers and I spent the spring, summer and fall canvassing our neighborhood, seeking out residents who would allow us to mow their lawns or rake their leaves in exchange for a reasonable fee. While the earnings of that first job were meager, the intangible benefits and life lessons that I derived from it were tremendous. I learned a lot about earning and managing money, responsibility, and most significantly, what I did not want do with my life. The

Education has always been an important foundation upon which my family encouraged the most. Not just the education pertaining to structured schooling, but the fundamentals in life that require you to interact in society and be a part of something bigger than yourself. They demonstrated how to commit to values such as responsibility, motivation, and consistency; and, how to be open-minded and passionate about the things you believe in. These things all required a sacrifice in various ways. They always stress how “sometimes you need to give up something to get ahead, or how sometimes sacrificing the familiar and what you expect from yourself to get the results that you are seeking in the long run.”

My parents taught me to always remember the less fortunate, encourage them, embrace them and share wisdom with them. The teachings of both parents are quite vivid in my mind even today. This is why I am such an ardent advocate in assisting underachievers that are below grade level, and propel them to greater educational opportunities. It is my desire to serve, teach and engage with the underserved children of Low Income Urban communities. The reason why I am motivated to become an effective teacher in a public school, is based upon my years of volunteering my time as a tutor-mentor to students who lived in the Chicago Housing Authority buildings.

My mother worked four jobs at once to make financial ends meet, while always stressing the importance of education and financial independence to my brother and myself. My grandmother only achieved a second grade education due to the financial constraints on her family at a young age, but still in the end managed to make certain that of her children and grandchildren had what was needed to flourish and become successful, educated members of the community. The tenacity and history of these two women I still carry with me today. Their struggles have inspired to me to only want more from life, but also serve as a positive role model for the younger members of my community. I observed from other family members how an education can open a multitude of doors and opportunities. I want to make the biggest and most significant on my community and on my family as possible, and the only foreseeable path is to achieve a college education to gain the necessary skills, knowledge and connections needed to flourish and implement positive

Anytime a new or life-changing event would come up, my family would encourage me to take the opportunity head on and do my absolute best. My most recent opportunity involved me becoming a camp counselor for young kids. When the opportunity was first presented I was hesitant to take the chance. My parents influenced my opinion by showing me how I could learn valuable leadership skills and strongly impact the lives of young children. Along with emotional support, my family would provide me with financial support. I was offered the grand honor to play for the North Texas Olympic Development Program (ODP) soccer team. After encouraging me to take a chance with this team, my family would add

Despite my parent’s challenges, they were still able to raise me with love and care and surrounded me in an environment where I