Later in life, this belief solidified when I worked at a YMCA summer camp as a camp counselor. It was the most magical place to work! Nobody wore makeup, or worried about the clothes they were wearing, or talked about what cool toys they had at home or the boys they had crushes on. It was a place where people could be themselves and be accepted for who they were. During my summers at camp I counseled cabins of girls aged 8-15 from all walks of life. Some campers were bussed in from the local Indian reservation, others were on scholarships and brought to camp through a social youth program, while some campers paid the full cost and came from beautiful homes on the south hill. Once everyone got to camp, it didn’t matter where you came from, kids just bonded over being kids and their shared interest in having fun. Everyone thrived at camp. I heard a lot of tough stories from campers during my summers on the lake, and sometimes I had a really hard time saying goodbye, knowing they were going back to a tough place. As I said goodbye each week, both myself and the camperss with tears in our eyes, I remember thinking “I am so fortunate to have been able to be a role model, make an impression, and give that kiddo some love… even if it was just for a few weeks of their life.” It was working at summer camp that made me want to become a teacher. I knew I could connect with kids, help them grow, and give them the love and support that they need- especially those not getting enough at home.
Soon after, I became a teaching major at USD. It was during my time in this program, observing classes and doing student teaching that I deepened my thoughts and feelings about education. USD does a really good job of exposing their students to all different types of school settings. I did classroom observations in wealthy suburbs, in barrios, at a continuation high school, and in areas of south San Diego where the majority of the school population were English learners.
During that time I observed a lot of great teachers. Teachers that clearly knew their students well, and loved them. Teachers who went the extra mile to help kiddos in their class that were struggling. Teachers who were in touch with students’ physical and emotional needs- sometimes offering them a snack if they knew they missed breakfast, or a hug if they were having a tough day. I saw the admiration that some students had for these special teachers and it made a huge impression on me. I wanted to be like them. I was very inspired by many of the teachers I observed and worked with during my time at USD.
I also saw quite a few bad teachers, and learned from them too. I saw teachers who had appeared to have given up on some of their students. I saw teachers who blamed the students for not being motivated or trying hard enough. I saw lazy teachers who had become jaded by the system. It was during those times that I always wondered how it was possible that adults could treat kids so badly. I think the worst thing I saw was a 4th grade male teacher scream at his classroom for a solid ten minutes. I remember in that moment vowing that I would never ever yell at my class. It was unproductive, cruel and embarassing.
Later that year, I’ll never forget, I was telling a woman on an airplane that I was going to become a teacher. She turned to me and told me very frankly “When you work with kids and they don’t understand something, it’s never their fault, it’s yours”. That statement made such a huge impression on me. Everytime my class doesn’t understand something, instead of being frustrated with them, I think about how I must not have been clear enough, or maybe I should teach them the concept in another way.
Since my student teaching experience I have worked in south San Diego and I’ve worked in north San Diego. I’ve worked in schools where the students were very impoverished and the majority of the population qualified for free and reduced lunch each day. I’ve worked in a school where money is abundant, divorce is rampant, and I even had a student bring in a martini shaker as a water bottle one day (no joke). In both situations I saw students succeed with the help of good teachers and role models. After working in schools of different populations my belief still stands. People are people, kids are kids. Some have had more opportunities than others, some need more support. Everyone has their own set of problems and needs. All students need to feel accepted, cared for, supported and encouraged. With those things, all students have the ability to achieve success. It is our job to give it to them.
I’ve lived a very blessed life and I know it is my calling to give back to others through teaching. I am dedicated to work hard toward becoming a better teacher and leader each day.