EL SAUSAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
While doing Service Learning during my first semester at El Sausal Middle School, I began to realize these effects of Service Learners in the classroom. I was the only tutor in the after school program on at El Sausal that focused on students with grades C or lower. The teacher in charge and I were available to assist these students and encourage them to raise their grades. I came in with the mindset of teaching them, and being seen as an authority figure. My first day was tough because of that, these students saw me as a stranger and an irrelevant figure. I realized that before I can assist them I had to gain their trust and show them I believed and cared for them to succeed.
My first day there, the few who did talk to me asked me questions about college and why it was so important. As I tried my best to answer, they responded by saying they would probably set foot in prison before they can step foot in a university. I honestly felt so shocked and a bit devastated to hear such thoughts come from a 7th grader. The teacher in charge of the program helped a lot, and along the way inspired me to return and give my best to these students. She reminded me that most of these students had harsh backgrounds and some were involved in gang affiliations or just simply did not have enough support at home. Distraught and overwhelmed, I drove home after the session and pondered the many ways I can prove to these kids that I cared and that I believed they were capable of so much more. Before doing anything, I knew that their voices needed to be heard and that their feelings needed to be acknowledged. It took a while for them to allow me into their groups and for them to feel comfortable asking me questions about their assignments. When they did, I made sure to ask how their day was or what they were looking forward to when they got home. Soon enough they began to ask for my name and if I was going to be there the next day so that they made sure to come. It felt amazing to know that they opened up a lot more and it was nice to see their energy go from unmotivated to something a bit more exciting. Through many interactions with them I learned that every child has specific needs that require attention, and that these vary for each individual. I found myself learning new ways to approach them and trying to find even more ways to handle difficult topics that often came up, like race, stereotypes and bullying. I believe this is what service aims for, rather than helping a community, looking for ways to understand it and its needs and finding possible solutions.
Growing up, my education was strongly supported by community based programs such as tutoring, the Migrant Ed program, GATE and after school programs. Through them I gained the support and encouragement that I could not find on my own. However, I was not aware of the effects these programs had on me, and as a child I did not appreciate them enough. I was raised and educated bilingually, and was taught to embrace both cultures and languages. I was fortunate enough to grow up in such a warm environment. Being part of the Latino community I have witnessed the many ways in which Latinos are oppressed and posed as ignorant; like my father, who speaks broken English, but is the smartest and most hard working person I know. I have been the middle man between him and many of his employers, and know how difficult it is for him to communicate and get by, as well as how difficult it is for the employers, specially when they mean well.
I identify as Mexican American, and in my experience this has never been a bad thing, but a difficult thing. I have struggled in many ways to identify myself this way, at times I still feel unsure, like I might be more of one identity than the other. I have one, or two identities, I chose to embrace them both. I always welcome new ways to learn more about myself because I know that I am still growing. I’ve had friends and family neglect their native language and where they come from because of fear to be made fun of or judged. This has been a concept that is difficult for me to understand because I’ve never had to feel that way. Through stories and the experiences of others, I am able to understand to a certain extent. However I think that people should not have to be ashamed of where they come from and should embrace it.
Through service I was able to encourage students to stay true to themselves, especially in communities so diverse like Monterey and Salinas. I think it is important that as a community we teach one another as well as learn from each other. I believe that a strong community is a group of individuals who support and take care of one another. Through leadership and experience, my peers and I am be able to set an example for the younger generations to follow.
My first day there, the few who did talk to me asked me questions about college and why it was so important. As I tried my best to answer, they responded by saying they would probably set foot in prison before they can step foot in a university. I honestly felt so shocked and a bit devastated to hear such thoughts come from a 7th grader. The teacher in charge of the program helped a lot, and along the way inspired me to return and give my best to these students. She reminded me that most of these students had harsh backgrounds and some were involved in gang affiliations or just simply did not have enough support at home. Distraught and overwhelmed, I drove home after the session and pondered the many ways I can prove to these kids that I cared and that I believed they were capable of so much more. Before doing anything, I knew that their voices needed to be heard and that their feelings needed to be acknowledged. It took a while for them to allow me into their groups and for them to feel comfortable asking me questions about their assignments. When they did, I made sure to ask how their day was or what they were looking forward to when they got home. Soon enough they began to ask for my name and if I was going to be there the next day so that they made sure to come. It felt amazing to know that they opened up a lot more and it was nice to see their energy go from unmotivated to something a bit more exciting. Through many interactions with them I learned that every child has specific needs that require attention, and that these vary for each individual. I found myself learning new ways to approach them and trying to find even more ways to handle difficult topics that often came up, like race, stereotypes and bullying. I believe this is what service aims for, rather than helping a community, looking for ways to understand it and its needs and finding possible solutions.
Growing up, my education was strongly supported by community based programs such as tutoring, the Migrant Ed program, GATE and after school programs. Through them I gained the support and encouragement that I could not find on my own. However, I was not aware of the effects these programs had on me, and as a child I did not appreciate them enough. I was raised and educated bilingually, and was taught to embrace both cultures and languages. I was fortunate enough to grow up in such a warm environment. Being part of the Latino community I have witnessed the many ways in which Latinos are oppressed and posed as ignorant; like my father, who speaks broken English, but is the smartest and most hard working person I know. I have been the middle man between him and many of his employers, and know how difficult it is for him to communicate and get by, as well as how difficult it is for the employers, specially when they mean well.
I identify as Mexican American, and in my experience this has never been a bad thing, but a difficult thing. I have struggled in many ways to identify myself this way, at times I still feel unsure, like I might be more of one identity than the other. I have one, or two identities, I chose to embrace them both. I always welcome new ways to learn more about myself because I know that I am still growing. I’ve had friends and family neglect their native language and where they come from because of fear to be made fun of or judged. This has been a concept that is difficult for me to understand because I’ve never had to feel that way. Through stories and the experiences of others, I am able to understand to a certain extent. However I think that people should not have to be ashamed of where they come from and should embrace it.
Through service I was able to encourage students to stay true to themselves, especially in communities so diverse like Monterey and Salinas. I think it is important that as a community we teach one another as well as learn from each other. I believe that a strong community is a group of individuals who support and take care of one another. Through leadership and experience, my peers and I am be able to set an example for the younger generations to follow.