Category: Unit 1 (Page 4 of 26)

Walking into the music hall of my high school was one of the best feelings I could remember. Students and my peers would be sitting in the hallways, you would hear perfect harmonies, guitars being strummed all in sync, students laughing, some reading or some would be eating. It sort of felt like I was in the tv show “victorious” which seemed pretty cool to me. The feeling never gets old, completely immersed in the music department, passing every classroom as well was also very humorous. You would see a lot of kids and keyboards and in the next, you would see the strings class and in the next, you would see the choruses practicing.

My class was the very last classroom in the music hall. It was the biggest and it smelt of dust, it has wooden walls, for the better acoustics. The classroom would never be too cold or too hot, it felt very welcoming when walking in. My music teacher seemed very intimidating at first, he was very funny in every type of way, he could play any instrument in that classroom which was very impressive to me. In that classroom, we learned many important things about musicianship, but what stuck to me the most was hard work, determination, and punctuality. Three very important things and my life and one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in that class and high school, even now. Walking in I never really knew what to expect, you know regular music class, we practice and practice for the pieces we would be playing in concerts hosted by the school. But this class was much different than expected, I have never heard of homework in music class, or working 10x harder for sitting in a certain seat. Being the first clarinet and the first chair, let’s just say it was one of the best and worst things that have ever happened to me. The best because, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so much hard work for results, I’ve always been pretty laid back in everything never really trying my best.

I remember being late to his class all the time, feeling his stare follow me for a whole century as if he was a scientist and I was the specimen. I look back and I’m like how could I disrespect my favorite teacher in his classroom. Forgetting my mouthpiece on purpose so I wouldn’t get to play that day. Music is hard when you play it, I felt like this class was not the best fit for me, I needed to go to beginner band, not concert band.  Until one day Mr.C  said something very important to me, “Samantha, you can’t be another tragic story of quitting this class, knowing you have the potential. I know it does not sound so serious or anything major but he had a point, how was I just going to quit this class because I was getting yelled at due to my lateness and being unprepared. Once Mr.C said that to me it was almost as if a switch had turned on in my brain, and that’s when I knew I needed to have the first chair. Every month the whole band individually would submit their videos playing the piece from home and that video would guide the teacher to sit us in our designated seats. So there was always that opportunity to level up or for someone to sit on your seat, in my opinion, that made it very competitive to be the best in your section.

I remember taking my instrument home every Thursday-Monday to practice at home the pieces and scales that were not asked for but helped with your playing. This is where the worst moments of my life began, where I learned to change my perspective in music class. When you are practicing a piece you don’t just play it so many times from beginning to the end until you get it right, you start from the end to the beginning, you start wherever it may trouble you, almost as if you’re changing your perspective. Wanting to be the first chair until the end of my junior year was very stressful due to keeping my grades up, and keeping my seat. I changed my perspective to value the hard work I was doing, the commitment I saw in the results of my hard work. I began to truly enjoy practicing music, accomplishing a music video without crying after I would stop recording.

I had Mr.C for the last two years and I would constantly be switching seats my senior year from first to second and second to the first seat. The girl who was also the first clarinet with me was tremendously good, she was so good I couldn’t even deny it, and that’s when I knew the time and experience correlate hand in hand. I realized that what I also needed to sound  good was the amount of time I was  playing my instrument, she has been playing clarinet for over 5 years, while I was there trying to outplay her with my 2 years of experiences Sophomore year was when I picked up that clarinet and it was senior year, I was in the symphonic band which was the best and the hardest class, I realized that I had done everything I could do to be the best I possibly could be, to treasure being first clarinet second seat, not having the pressure to tune the whole band. This reflected on my entire classes of senior year, to treasure how far I have come, how much I had grown in one class with one teacher. I hope that this would stick with me wherever I go, punctuality, hard-working, and determination

School was not for me until I was finally heard.  

Dating back to my earliest memory of education, I have always felt that school was never for me. I have always felt a disconnect between me and school. Don’t get me wrong I liked learning, it was the teachers, rules, and hierarchy I disliked. Much like Oliveraz most of my teachers taught via the banking method. We, the students were just expected to take in as much information as we could and never question authority. Most days, a debate or misunderstanding would erupt between me and my teachers. Which started because I would calmly voice my opinions, as I would put it, that were viewed as disrespect. Shutting up and being a human educational sponge was something I could never do. Learning was very different but it was something I had to do, especially since education was an exaggeratedly important part of my household. 

School was a battlefield. Every day going into school I had this mindset that it was either going to be me or the teachers. And of course, I chose myself. However, this always resulted in a conflict since I was not going to betray my morals and up bring just to make some teacher happy. Constantly bickering with the teacher made my school life very stressful and hard which in return harmed my grade. Like my grades were terrible, I knew that I could have done better but when situations are designed for you to fail there is a slim chance of success. One time while in my home economics class, I remember my teacher was grading the work she gave us during class, it was near the end of class and I was the last person in the line. So it is my turn I walk up to her desk in the front of the class, place my book on the table then proceed to put my hands on my hips and talk to my friends. She then told me to move my hands which I did. A few minutes later my hands were on my hips again and I was doing it subconsciously. She then started to raise her voice and I did the same in return. Soon after a screaming match erupted between us that was loud enough for the whole class to hear, but not to disturb the other classes on the floor. The whole thing turned into a big situation to the point where she stopped calling my name when taking attendance and refuse to acknowledge my existence. This did not bother me cause we did not get along before the incident and her leaving me alone was a plus. As for my attendance, I didn’t mind that either because I knew I was going to school and I knew that she was the one that was not doing her job. This was soon resolved after a long and honest conversation. This conversation evoked something in me, it had me thinking as it was the first time I had witnessed a teacher apologize for their wrongdoing. It was a beacon of hope as it was around the time my perspective on school started to change and that one conversation was the main reason. 

However, this drastically changed while in an American high school. Life in the Caribbean was an extremely different experience than the life I have now in the U.S in every aspect ranging from school to home. Within a few days, I was ready for my first day of High School in the U.S. There are no words to express the lack of hope, enthusiasm, and motivation I felt about having to go to school again. As I thought it was going to be a repetition of what I have always experienced. On my first day of high school, I remember being pretty nervous and just saddened at the fact that I would finish high school without being allowed the chance to truly express myself. With all that I was facing in school, the weather made it worse. Having to leave the comfort of one’s warm and cozy house to battle the freezing cold weather outside was something I was not prepared for. One would think that when leaving the comfort of their home to travel in the cold to get to school. The polite thing the school could do is make sure the heaters are working but no. The classrooms were as cold as outside and still some students were asking the teacher to open the windows. The weather and school took a while to get used to. My English class was the only class that truly excited me. On a regular Friday afternoon, I vividly remember being very excited for my 7th period English class( not because it was my last class of the day or week.) I was genuinely excited to be in the class since we were assigned an essay where we had to write about our views on a specific historical event of our choice that we connected with. The most efficient way I  express myself is through writing, so having to write about something that I am passionate about somewhat restored my faith in school. To top it off, my English teacher, Ms. Juarez was very nice, understanding, and motivating. She treated every student as if they were her child. She changed my perspective on school and how one should learn. The classwork she assigned and the conversations we had challenged me to think outside my norms which broadened my perspective as a whole. 

It is not a secret the American school system differs from those in other countries. While in a Caribbean high school education and learning were solely based on retaining as much information as you possibly could. The Caribbean educational environment is a place the teachers taught and the students learned no in between. The chance to voice one’s opinion or question the abuse of authority was never allowed. However, American high school eluded a safe space where everyone was a student no matter the title they held. Teachers often asked the students their opinion on occurring or past events that may have affected them in some way. Teachers were aware of the fact that they do not know everything there is in the world. To them, this is an advantage, coming into the classroom they know students had different experiences and knowledge. Creating a place where every student felt heard was more important than retaining information since everyone has their unique style of learning. 

It was cold chilly morning I was going to my first class of the day which is algebra this takes place when I was in high school. As I was entering the classroom it was rather bit dark cause some of the lights were off, but as I went inside I sat down in my seat taking out of my things my pencil, notebook and my homework so my teacher can check it. The routine when we enter the class is usually sit down, take out things and work whatever was on the board and after came together as class to answer and then eventually start the lesson. As the class was going on my teacher said there was going to be test and we all had to be prepared and knowing me that I hate math I hated test days because I always struggled with math class and knowing that I had to take the regents exam and to pass it in order to graduate scared me because I thought  I was going to fail and never graduate from high school. It was hard knowing that I was going have to the subject I disliked first thing in the morning it wouldn’t have been a problem if it was later in the day but when I had to start my day everyday with this algebra class with a teacher that I don’t particular like makes my day really bad. There are times where I don’t even show up to class my teacher has habit on picking at students who don’t like coming up to the board to do the question and when that time I try to avoid or don’t show up to class because I am scared that when does pick on me I wouldn’t know how to do the problem and call me out in front of everyone which I really hate.My view on education changed when I had to take my algebra class for the second time because I know when I first took the class I barley showed up and didn’t do really well on classwork, homework,test and because I got a bad grade which ended up me taking the class again which was annoying but knowing what I did to the class I regretted a lot because not only do I have to take the algebra class again I also took another math class making me which was really annoying. But after knowing most of the materials both of my teachers helped me pass there class as well as the regents exam and really taught about the learning world. Though I don’t like any math courses I know that’s it’s important learn them because who knows it can come in handy someday.Now how does this whole experience of mine in high school might relate to the Standard Written English(SWE) you might ask lets first get to know SWE. Standard Written English defines as an implement on improving your writing skills for the better. All of this helped me show another side of the educational world that I didn’t notice before I really didn’t focus on my reading or my writing skills and just wrote whatever not paying attention to any instructions but now knowing that impact it had on my education life it made me understand how important writing and reading is not just for my algebra class but for all. This experience really changed on how I views education because knowing what I did with this class I regretted everything and if I had chance to do it all over again I would paid more attention in class not just algebra but all of my classes because I knew that I could have done way better now that I look back at it again. I know that what I experience in high school may be different from other people’s perspective but I know that each student is different and people look at education in different ways some can be positive others can be negative thoughts.I know that my high school experience wasn’t that bad compared to my middle school experience which to me was one of my most painful yet hardest three years of my life. If I could restart my high school year I would take it because I feel like I could have done so much better and stopped myself from doing bad things that I knew affected my life. Knowing all of my mistakes that I made in high school I made sure I told myself that I wouldn’t do the same mistake that I did in high school in college because not everyone has the opportunity to go to college for many reasons which could be like for financial issues or it could not knowing what to study having commitment issues etc.  Therefore I would be taking my education really seriously and not let anything thing get in my way because not only do I want to make in big in life I also want to make my family happy and not disappoint them because I knew that were not happy with how I was in high school so with college I wanna do the opposite and make them proud. I also want to be a good role model to my younger sister who will be soon be going to college and because of this I need to set a good example of myself and not slack of college because I don’t want her to seem that college life is easy and it’s way different from high school and that your education for college should me taken sersiously because it could lead you to many benefits. Honestly speaking I feel like students should really care about their education because it can teach you a lot of things in life and you can gain insight of things you never knew about it but not everyone might agree on it since everyone views education in a different way. In the end if you think that education is important to you then go for it because nobody going to stop you from learning.