Author: Mary Pruitt

“Hey Black Child”

Do you know who you are

Who you really are

Do you know you can be

What you want to be

If you try to be

What you can be

Hey Black Child

Do you know where you going

Where you really going

Do you know you can learn

What you want to learn

If you try to learn

What you can learn…….

This poem resonates with me because it reminds that during a time when black people identity was stolen because of slavery and poor living conditions. Reminding black people that regardless of their economic situations you can be somebody important in the world. Don’t let a white person take your dignity to learn, read and write! The poem also tells me that black people can learn anything with courage and knowledge from books. READ READ READ and go to school because its important.

The best advice I’ve heard was to do research before entering into college from Calvin Herman and finding  a mentor from Cherishe Cumma-Clarke. This advice is well received because I believe educators need seasoned educators to travel the road of experience to make it in the school system. I have encountered many educators when I decided to go into teaching but no one significant enough to deal with pressure of having a younger adult to mentor. It became evident that many had already had educators to mentor so researching a mentor is hard. Its important to research a person I believe is compatible and strong in your field of interest as well as you must be.

Calvin Herman mentioned that researching the school is as important as picking your career I believe due to the many resources a school have and may help in your decision-making process. Research takes time and patience in reaching a goal. So many factors are counted like financial aid, the right classes, and the career you decide to have. How you decide your future is so tricky when it comes to schools because the one you pick may not have what you need for the duration of school but you do your best not to have to transfer or take classes in another school.  

So many decisions need to be made between high school and college life that students can’t grasp the importance of the information needed to succeed. So much advice from counselors and people alike can be confusing for young adults with no direction but have a career goal. How do you pick between the person you believe is giving good advice and the one giving good advice? Confused yet?

When the pandemic came life seemed bleak and the future almost did not exist. After much thinking I had to come up with a plan to accept how life will turn out. I thought of how children would be able to learn. Much of the time I focused on helping children through the hardest time in their lives. When I think how some children find it hard to relate to parents than their teachers and how important a teacher’s role is makes me that much more interested in becoming an educator. When I helped my grandchildren with Zoom, homework, writing and other aspects of their education and I was so enthusiastic to teach a lesson that I caught an anxiety attack. Lol! When asked, “What do I want to do with the rest of my life?” my response is become an educator. Teaching children to develop and grow educationally is an experience I am willing to take. My desire and need to become an educator begin with my dedication to these children. Being a positive role model is very important because children look up to adults that come across their lives as does children that cross teachers path the same way. Educators are a very powerful force in children lives and remember them even as adults. I want to be that person in a child’s life that makes a difference in their life and where they go.When the pandemic came life seemed bleak and the future almost did not exist. After much thinking I had to come up with a plan to accept how life will turn out. I thought of how children would be able to learn. Much of the time I focused on helping children through the hardest time in their lives. When I think how some children find it hard to relate to parents than their teachers and how important a teacher’s role is makes me that much more interested in becoming an educator. When I helped my grandchildren with Zoom, homework, writing and other aspects of their education and I was so enthusiastic to teach a lesson that I caught an anxiety attack. Lol! When asked, “What do I want to do with the rest of my life?” my response is become an educator. Teaching children to develop and grow educationally is an experience I am willing to take. My desire and need to become an educator begin with my dedication to these children. Being a positive role model is very important because children look up to adults that come across their lives as does children that cross teachers path the same way. Educators are a very powerful force in children lives and remember them even as adults. I want to be that person in a child’s life that makes a difference in their life and where they go.

The illustration depict (unable to download creative photo) how people can come together no matter the race, religion or sex or faith. Learning takes team work and dedication from all ends of the spectrums that include teachers, administration, students and anyone who makes policies and rules in the education system. During The New College Classroom lecture by Professor Cathy Davidson and Dr. Christine Katopodis it was said that the higher education need to change in order for the students to change and become better at their career. This is where it starts and begin to florish as students begin to to be efficient at their job. When asked what we liked most about teaching, it was learning the material given and perfecting the skills that will be taught to them. As history changes everyday its up to educators and administrators to change also. Learning and teaching work hand in hand as explained at the lecture. As educational leaders we must arm ourselves with information that students can take with them as they grow and learn in this society. I learned a lot at this lecture and how i can become a better tool and asset to my students.