Category: Unit 1 (Page 10 of 20)

My experiences with education in the past have been slightly disappointing. When I first started going to school I lived in Queens, I often transferred schools not due to any real particular reason it’s just that my parents would change their mind about a school really frequently. This caused me to not really build any relationship with any of the teachers or students I’ve met because I felt as though it wouldn’t last so there was no point. After I graduated 8th grade I moved to the Bronx to start highschool, again I felt as though building a bond with anyone would be pointless. However, after my first year 2 years I realized I’m going to be here to stay and I urged myself to make the best with where I am. I became more interactive in the classroom and attempted to participate more, and since I was more engaged in the classroom my level of understanding of the topic increased.

I feel as though my educational experience has taken lots of twists and turns to get to where I am today, but I feel as though if I didn’t go through those experiences I wouldn’t have been the same person today. Back when I was going to school in Queens school would often be a drag, I would sit in the back of the classroom barely paying attention or drawing in my notebook. However, it wasn’t till after class when I would go to the library where I felt my actual education took place. In my eyes I wasn’t a real bookworm or anything. It’s just that when I lived in Queens I didn’t have TV or Internet so I went to the library to play on the computers. After some time I discovered Japanese comic or graphic novels also known as manga, I became obsessed with the art design, plot, and storytelling and even got to relate to a few characters. I learned from Stephon Hobson that it’s beneficial to find books/characters you can relate to because they could’ve gone through the same hardships and experiences as you and could give you some foresight on how to go about the path you wish to choose. Even if that may be an author’s fictional character it could still affect a person’s mindset or perception on how to view their life. This helped me to keep a positive attitude even when I felt isolated.

As my educational experience continued I found myself in high school, around my second year attending school I started to attempt to engage in the classroom. Although I was hesitant, I began asking questions when I needed more explanation or clarification. I also started to understand what I was reading instead of just temporarily absorbing the knowledge I was given for a test then forget it the day after. Before I knew it instead of learning what I needed to learn I was understanding what the purpose is for it and applying it to life. As Toni Morrison once said “The words on the page are only half the story, says Toni Morrison. The rest is what you bring to the party.” To read her words it could mean anything depending on the reader’s interpretation, however the message she wanted to get across remains the same.

Allow me to end by saying, whether you find yourself in a situation you think is hopeless or you feel like you are not performing your best in school, if you make the best of it you will succeed. By actually trying and attempting to understand and not just accepting it and ignoring it you are able to change your situation and allow yourself to do better.

I Belong to a conservative family. I have a huge family and everyone obeys my dad a lot. To him, education is important. “Your dad struggled a lot to complete his education,” said mom. I have grown up seeing Dad telling my cousins to study hard and become an independent person. I have seen him struggled for family and us. He has always been my role model. I never cared much about education before because I assumed it was pointless if we can’t remember anything while growing up. I also thought education doesn’t teach us anything which we can apply in real life. However, since education is important to dad, I only considered it for him.

The education system in Bangladesh is very despicable. In spite of that 11 years of educational life in Bangladesh where the students are expected to memorize the textbook and copyright the exact thing on the exam and if not done properly face punishment, and this minimizes the growth of the students’ own knowledge and ideas. With, this strict education system in Bangladesh where I did not have the freedom to express my ideas on the subjects. The word “fun” never existed in the Bangladesh education system.

After the short summer break we returned to school, I forgot to complete my Social Study homework. The following day the teacher called me to show my homework I stood up from the chair my eyes were on the floor, as she got up pushing the chair behind, my heart was pounding as if I am running a marathon, she walked to my table “You know the punishment come’ on show me your hand”. I hid my hand on the back but she refuses to see the fear in my eyes instead she pulled my hand aggressively and hit me with a steel ruler which left an unforgettable mark on my hand.

Immediately, Mom & Dad appointed a tutor to come after school to supervise me with the school work. Soon after I was going to take the final exam for 5th-grade, the tutor stayed for extra hours making sure I understand the materials, and if not she would also punish me. The next day, dad cut off the Tv line and restricted me to not to attend any family gathering or weddings. On the result day, dad rushed to my room “You have passed with an A+”. “Yayyyyy that’s good news,” I said. The sparkle in his eyes was satisfying to see but as soon as he left the room I felt devastated. In between the time of studying in Bangladesh has pushed me toward hating education more and more. I lost the interest in leaning anything or focusing though, I had no option but to continue to tolerate the torture until dad decided to move to the USA.

At the age of 14, I move to the USA. In the meantime, at the Airport while I closed my eyes I overheard dad say, “I am taking them to the USA for their better education and future, I hope my decision proves to be right”. The words from him planted new hopes in me but, the only thought was bothering me was “will my preference for education change?”. Soon after I was enrolled in school, on my first day, my hands were shaking as I was walking into the school. Although I was nervous, I was optimistic that something better waiting for me. I knew it would be difficult for me to adapt to the new environment.
“Hey, what’s your name?” a girl asked. I told her and she asked me a few more questions; however, I couldn’t answer her questions since I didn’t speak English. On the first day, I was admitted to ESL class, little by little the teachers would help me learn English and better me if I would make a mistake. The gesture I was receiving from them motivated me. Suddenly, every day I would wake up early in the morning and then walk to school with Kelly. She was the only one who was helping me adapt to the environment. The freedom of expressing my thoughts and ideas in writings and other materials was very nice, but the challenges were yet to come. Each time I was told to write something in my word I would take out a pencil to write the but the only two words were on the paper was my name. Many years of studying in Bangladesh left dust to set on my mind, I was confused about where to begin or end. For being a new student in the country, I didn’t have to take the state tests.

In 2016 I started High School yet, I was very uncertain of the new turns that were ahead of me. Somewhat I was being able to move forward until I was cast down with the exam called the SAT, I did not hear of this test till the sophomore year of high school where I got to know that without this exam I won’t be able to attend good colleges and instantly I felt more stressed than before. Several questions were roaming in my head, “What if I do not get a good score? How will others and my family view me if I don’t do good on this exam?” Then the wave of receiving the extra time privilege strikes me. The following day I ran to the Assistant Principle office “Mr. since I receive extra time in regents, I may get extra time in the SAT as well”.
“I am sorry Ramisa, but the college board isn’t allowing you to have extra time,” he said.
On the exam, I sat with anxiety and a shaky hand of not completing the exam on time. Due to the limited time I was impelled to leave over 25 questions on each section of the SAT randomly answered. The old memory of studying in Bangladesh rushed back in me with tears rolling down through my cheek, then I hear a voice “It is just a test it doesn’t measure your intelligence nor as a person” it was then I got the strength to push forward. Despite all the challenges, I graduated from high school. Presently the college is a new journey, there is much more to come within.

Ultimately, education is supposed to be fun and not forced upon anyone. Education is for oneself not for others, throughout this journey I acquired to like education, beyond how it was presented by the system, it has so much to offer and provide opportunities. My educational adversity grew me into a different person, which boosted my confidence and willpower. I didn’t let my experiences hold me back from improving myself. I proved myself to be a strong person who can develop herself despite the obstacles I faced in the past. For me, education isn’t only for my dad but to walk on that path to become an independent woman and successful. Being aware of the value of education is the only ladder to reach my dreams.

At the age of 4 or maybe at 5? I can’t remember that far back but I know around this age I was dropped off at a new building with new people for the first time. My mom said I cried everyday for a month of pre-school. This happened for about the next 3 years of school. It seems as if I never enjoyed going to school. My mom and older sisters always reminded me how important school is and how it’s my only job until I become an adult. Yes it was true I didn’t care much for school except until I got to the 8th grade.

Although school in general isn’t my thing, the subjects I really struggled in back then, and a little now, were math, social studies, and science. My math and science teachers were always strict, not sure if that’s how all teachers of these subjects were. However thanks to their assertiveness I did alright in the classes. I did my work in class because I hated being put on the spot or yelled at by teachers and homework was done because I ran out of excuses often as to why they weren’t complete or done at all. My grades were average, sometimes below average and if present me had those grades I would be so disappointed. In my elementary school years I was an alright student. I wasn’t one of those students who never paid attention or disrupted the lessons. I loved my english periods, we would write our own stories never researched or had to do all these fancy formats. Reading is my favorite thing about school. Reading fun facts, reading stories, reading the scholastics paper and reading books would never bother me. The third grade is a year I can never forget. For starters I realized how odd the bathroom policies were but that’s not the only reason it’s so memorable. My third grade teacher has now passed away, his name was Mr. Lombyer. He had round eyeglasses, very thin light blonde hair always had brown boots or white sneakers, flannels year round. I don’t have a great memory but I can remember the feeling of the day. It was a Thursday and my class just had lunch and we were coming back from a short assembly. I asked my teacher if I could use the bathroom but his answer was no. I asked again in hopes he would say yes but he said no because we can use the bathrooms 10 minutes before or after the bell which made no sense. We got to our classroom and he did a headcount, as always to assure everyone was there, when suddenly I felt it. The worst feeling yet the best. I was scared to say anything so I ran to the bathroom which was right down the hall and into a stall. My best friend who is still my best friend to this day ran after me and she also called for the vice principal. She was a tall red haired slim woman who was very kind and she handled the situation thankfully. I noticed the same bathroom rules in highschool which i dislike very much and don’t understand. 

In middle school a light bulb kind of lit up in my head telling me that i’m going to be in school for pretty much the majority of my life. Fifth grade was nothing special. I would usually score low on my tests and the projects were done poorly. I cared but I still did not have the motivation to do my very best. Throughout 6th and 7th grade I developed a dislike for english. In my essays I couldn’t receive more than a 2 which frustrated me. Yeah, frustrated me, someone who didn’t care much for the numerical grades just as long as they’re passing it was fine, was bothered. I felt annoyed as to why I couldn’t write as well as I was able to read. I never paid mind to grades but I wanted to know I could write well and only a higher grade could prove that. On the following essay I took into consideration all the corrections and suggestions my teacher wrote in bright pink ink from my other essay. I was hoping for a 2.5 a 3 if I got lucky but I got a 4! Now you’d think i would continue aiming for more 4’s but i went back to my mentality that a passing grade was a good grade. Not sure why but that’s how I have always thought about school.

Now 8th grade, possibly my favorite grade ever. When I entered 8th grade I was still in the mentality of a passing grade is a good grade. It was about 2 weeks into the year. I got to know the expectations of my teachers and the course. It seemed like another boring year at school. However this year was different because our class was able to vote on taking the regents class for math and science or taking the regular 8th grade class. When my homeroom teacher took the vote I was shocked to see so many hands in favor of taking the regents class, including mine. I still don’t know why I raised my hand. I was sure I would do so badly in the tests and the final exam but I wanted to try this challenge. We immediately got into covering the topics of the regents and I noticed the workload was a bit more than my friends in the regular class. English class and social studies was the regular class but I noticed it to be more challenging as well. Or was it that I was actually trying now that I noticed school was challenging. I took the algebra 1 and living environment regents class. My science teacher was a grumpy venezuelan man with a thick accent, very strict but if you did the work he praised you. I had a research project one time. He assigned us to break down the scientific method and show how scientists have used it. I chose Gregor mendel. His pea pod experiment captivated me how he could cross species, plant species. I learned so much in just this one project. I was excited to hand in my project and so happy when I got it back. This was a high grade for me this year on a project, I received a 95. I was so happy with the feedback and praise I received from my teacher. I continued to do well in his work and scored an 83 on the regents. Now my math teacher was the whole inspiration for this narrative. Her name is Mrs. Swiatek. I think her favorite color was green. She wore green makeup and clothes almost every day. She showed me the importance of not only math but about education in general. She was very strict, yes, making her classes stay after school for mandatory tutoring and not moving on to the next topic because one student didn’t understand it. She always pushed me specifically. I knew the formulas and the methods but she made me understand why we were doing these questions. Thanks to this teacher I scored a 91 on my regents, the highest score in all my years of school including highschool.