Eyes On The Prize

Often enough I felt like I wanted to give up, other times I have been told by others that I'm not going anywhere. What hurt the most is that it was people close to me. Regardless of all this I have made up my mind, left those negative thoughts behind and have adhere to keeping my eyes on the prize.  At what price though....the price of receiving a higher education. That piece of paper that is highly valued within our society.  The one that opens doors, that talks volumes and gives an identity and power to those who hold it, obtain it...achieve it.  Most importantly at what cost???? Hmmmm let me count the ways.  Well I would have to start with all the frustrations starting from not finding parking spaces because in any given semester the school that I attend has decided to implement a new parking procedure to the sleepless three and four hour nights that mark up most of the days in my calendar.  Then there is all the sacrifices especially if you have a family...those are the hardest but also the most motivational.  One day being able to pay my parents for making the sacrifice of coming to this country and leaving everything behind.  I am thankful that my program is so rewarding though.  Like the fact that I write papers inspired on my daughter.  Also the plan that I have of one day showing her all the good she brought out in me, how she gave me stories to tell that made me unique.  It is then that I see the real value, the motor that keeps me going...it is then that I fix my eyes on that beloved and desired prize and that I'm willing to pay the cost!!!

I have been wondering how to transmit this to my students, how to inspire my students to fix their eyes on the prize.  I guess then I have my testimonials...starting from when I was a little girl who came to this country scared and anxious.  To going to one of the lowest performing schools called Central Falls.  A school that I think a whole nation knows because of the negative reputation the teachers there have and all the controversies.  That same school that I come from, that gave me so much. I am thankful enough that I come from there, it made me who I am, a better person a more rounded individual.  Especially those teachers who inspired me to arrive at Rhode Island College and take on education. 

Maybe college is not for everybody but an important skill to have is staying true to your dreams until you achieve them.  This is something that I hope my students learn from me, aside from all the other content I have to teach them.  A real life skill that I want to teach them is the fact that keeping our eyes on the prize helps us be someone in this society that often puts us down.  The most important part is that no matter what dream or achievement it is, when one holds, when one savors it, when one can says I'm proud of myself, I did it...that is the biggest, most incredible feeling of fullfillment a human being can elevate to!!! Students need to have this, to feel hungry for what they want, to see the positive in education.  I believe it is done more easily with an educator that models this, that has lived this and who wants to somehow, someway help students discover this valuable skill to have.

After all there was that quote that says "the greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do."