Category: Unit 1 (Page 7 of 20)

It was a hot summer day in the middle of June on a Saturday, and I had work. And to be honest I really did not want to go. But I had to do what I had to make my money. I get there and I clock in and I already knew it was going to be a busy day, so I was more annoyed and tired than usual. For those who don’t know during the time, I was working for a bike rental company and usually Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays would be the busiest days during the week. This is because, these days are when the most tourist have reservation or decide to go on tours hosted by our company. So, I clocked in and grabbed my sign and headed to the location I was assigned to (I was a sign guy for like the first 2 weeks). Now it’s around 10:30 in the afternoon and its starting to pick up. Around this time, you would see a transition from the people of Manhattan going to work into mainly tourist coming out of their hotel. By this time, I brought in around 3 customers. As more people started to reel in, I receive a call from the manager who oversees the sign team.  

I pick up the phone and he says, “can you get to me”. I go “of course, is everything okay?”. He goes “yes I’ll explain when you get here”. As I am walking to him, I was worried. “Did I do something wrong?” “Do I not bring in many customers” “Is he mad I came in 5 minutes late” “AM I GOING TO GET FIRED?!!!?!?!?!” All these thoughts where going through my mind now. I honestly thought I was, because it was my first job ever, and I didn’t know what to expect. 

I get there and he starts off with small talk. I answer and do the same. He then says you are needed in the garage. The Garage is where the bikes are stored, as well as being distributed to the customers. So, I am making my there and all you see is a very long line from the store and it’s at least 100 customers right there. I get to the garage and see Omar; I drop my sign and he tells me everything that’s going on out there and tells me what kind of bikes we need. And literally I have never seen this much of a hustle. It was straight up back and forth back and forth, 8 guys pushing 2 bikes at a time. And we were doing this for about 30 minutes. 

After everything starts to cool down, I start introducing myself to the other fellow coworkers. Then my age pops up, and they are all in shock because at the time I was 14. And no 14-year-old would be expected to do this hard labor job. But you would expect they would praise me, but they didn’t. It was mainly asking about school and how it was. Then it transitioned into what I wanted to do in college. And then learning about their different backgrounds and how they had it growing up made me realize how important education is, and how it can change so many lives. And coming from hearing it every time from my parents, it would get annoying and you would think it’s their job to do so. But meeting new people who have different backgrounds and different come ups and you meeting them literally like 5 minutes ago, you would think this is no joke. And the way their words were so heavy and how it had so much meaning behind it really did change the way I view education. And honestly from that day I would think of education from a different perspective, before I met them it was more of a getting it done so I can get it done and just to satisfy my parents. But after I met them it was more of a way out, and to better my future and to actually do something with my life. 

Overall, in my opinion that was the moment when my perspective on education changed. And honestly since then I haven’t strayed from that path. I still want more, and I still need more. 

Brandon Estevez

My thought process on education keeps on changing as I keep going through life even now. One of the main reasons why is because the way we learn keeps on changing and improving for better or worse. Education is constantly changing during modern society and being able to learn that can help you in so many different ways. The skills people learn based on what kind of education you require tend to help either you, people or society in general. As my life continues I was always told that there are multiple paths because as society grows the need for different types of education is needed creating multiple paths. My thought process on education was that  if you decided to learn or study something new it would reward you whether it would benefit you now or later in the future. I’m going to be sharing the moment in which I decided what kind of school I was going to be attending. I always thought that this was important because some high schools have unique things that are specific to them and serve as a little experience to other major decisions. 

When I was in 8th I was told that high school was going to be the craziest experience ever, scratch that my whole life since I was in the beginning of middle school I was told high school was hectic. As I was in the middle of my 8th grade year these thoughts occurred more often it was pulsing threw every inch of my body. I kept thinking when was high school going to be brought up, where, what class, was it going to be mailed first, I couldn’t contain my excitement or nervous I didn’t know which was which at the time. But later in the week Friday to be exact it happen I was in my last period of the day and my teacher stated that class would would end early and that he would discuss future event’s . He has done this before but so I didn’t put to much thought into it since I thought he was going to be talking about an upcoming test or a field trip/event that was being planned  for the grade since it was our last school year. As class mates were talking and doing work a person from the office came into our class and handed the teacher package, people were curious a first but quickly went back to what they were doing and within 10 minutes the  teacher ask everyone to stop what they were doing at to pay attention. Even though I was curious i was to tired and focused on the weekend to start guessing. The teacher being stating that this paper would be to be given to parent and return filled out and given back within the next two weeks as it was important for students. As it was being past out to each student he explain that it was for our decision of what high school we would be going to as  next year was approaching in a flash and just like that the tiredness I felt vanished and the start of a new path began.

When it was announced that  the beginning  for high school applications was starting a burst of energy was unleashed inside me, all I could think of is where do I begin. As I imagined everyone seemed to have gotten a burst of energy. Education was creating different paths and before I knew it those paths would then give new experience that would shape people, even people who are just deciding what high school to go to. As I walked home with a group of friends everyone instantly began talking about what high school they were thinking of or suggestions that there parent have brought up including me it was exciting we were being given new experience and with that new paths to choose from. As I said goodbye to my friends and continued heading home I kept thinking what should be my number one choice and so on since I was told that I had to wright multiple schools in case I couldn’t go to one or get accepted by one.  I told my parents and  began deciding on some schools but we were only brainstorming  since we had time. We thought about it multiple ways, if friends were going there, my grades, family members who were already in high school  location, etc. As I went to school and back from school high school was always at the top of my mind, multiple people talking about it as the first week out of 2 went by for high school application to be handed in

It was the beginning of the week again and as I left class I handed in my application and it felt like the weights on my shoulder were lifted I felt confident in my choices but also nervous each choice left to a different paths and experience some that would prove difficult and some that would be nice and rewarding in the future.

As I dealt with that experience it was my first taste of what education could offer and paths it could give. Education no matter which way you put it is a journey and it can take many forms, it gives all of us chance to experience or reach something new and add to who we are