Introduction
I was raised in a single parent home. My mother did everything she could to ensure that my brother and I became successful. I did not grow up in the best neighborhood. I was told by some of my non-black teachers that I would never succeed, and that I would simply end up serving nuggets at McDonald’s. I was basically told by those meant to encourage and mentor me, that I had a very bleak future with few choices and a small chance of accomplishing anything in life. I did manage to become successful despite these things. These experiences, however, led me to the idea of telling myself that if I could become a teacher, I would inspire kids like me to overcome the struggles and challenges that life places in their path. I did become a teacher, and now I have the unique opportunity to do just that. To inspire and show my students that they can be resilient and overcome any obstacles that life may bring their way.
One of my goals in life was to work in inner-city urban schools. I wanted to work in the same school district that I grew up in. I wanted to work in the same area that I grew up in. God has granted me this request. I now work in the exact school district and in the exact area where I grew up. This has meant so much to me because now I am inspiring children that go through the same obstacles and situations I went through and showing them, firsthand, that they can make it. I earnestly desire to prove to them that they will overcome any obstacle in their life. I had a beautiful single mother who pushed me to defy the odds. I knew that if I followed her example, I could teach my students that they can defy the odds as well.
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