Author: Julia Khutsishvili

1. What is something you were interested in when you were a kid? Are you still interested in that topic?  When I was a kid the top thing, I was interested in was the acting classes in theater school and tennis that i used to play professionally. I quitted tennis at the age of 13, because of facing a burnout but the acting classes, different story. When I was taking them, we had a bunch of homework such as learning the specific scripts and practicing memorizing them really good and overall, much more, well the end result was I quitted those classes, because my little self couldn’t handle being on top of the tasks in school and in acting classes. I am still interested in pursuing things in this field and looking forward to it.
2. If so, how curiosity changed and grown over the years? What role did educational system play in that curiosity? I wouldn’t say my curiosity tremendously grown but it is definitely not lost, the school played a big role in it. It wasn’t only that I couldn’t keep up with my assignments was also the bullying in a way that I faced in my class. My classmates found out that I was enrolled in theater school, and they made fun of me, that I am the dreamer wasting my time on something that I wouldn’t achieve, that acting is not serious and I’m being stupid for taking those classes. Also, I remember when I forgot to do a school project and my mom came to school to talk to a teacher about it, mom said that we both apologize, and we will bring it in a little late because we spent a lot of time in theater that completely been lost from track. My teacher said to mom that it is totally fine, and she understands but  then further on apparently was the same opinion as my classmates .. So Yeah, the school system and your community can play a big role in your interests, even if they are outside of a school building.

After reading the passage “A talk to Teachers” by James Baldwin, you can understand his point of view on things and see that the author digs a little deeper into history to prove his current given points. He wants to educate kids about all sides of American history, he stated “I would teach him that the press he reads is not as free as it says it is – and that he can do something about that, too. I would try to make him know that just as American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it, so is the world larger, more daring, more beautiful and more terrible, but principally larger – and that it belongs to him.” By those words I think James meant that the world is much larger than teachers / school system shows us , you have to think outside of the box and know that maybe by some actions and by knowing your history you can change your life now and yours and your kid’s future.

Question number two: Something I really wish I was taught in school is anything regarding finances, banks, bank accounts etc. In school we learn the basics, for example a bunch of math formulas that I personally can guarantee that I am not going to be using half of that knowledge in real life. Or a lot of scientific facts, that also a pretty useless information for me unless I would spontaneously change life path/major and go into science related majors. But what I wish I was taught is about how bank accounts work, when and how you should open it, what’s the recommendations of where to open savings account or maybe checking’s account. More college information such as about different loans, scholarships etc. information. Or also I wish i was taught at least a little information on renting, housing or maybe for example IRS form. I feel like if the things that I listed above would have been taught to kids in high school, it could be a really useful knowledge that when you get out of school and you are on your own in this adult world, you actually know what and how to do it. – Julia K