Everyone has said a mouthful about why college signing day is important, but we want to flag what is truly possible for our students. Colleges don't recruit from the inner city like they used to. When my aunt was a senior at Carter High School in the 70s, she had big dreams of going to Harvard. Her counselor told he that "she was smart, but not that smart." My aunt proved her wrong by going, in the 70s as a black woman, graduating, then getting her JD and MBA simultaneously from Harvard as well. She's doing just fine. Why? Because she wouldn't let anyone stop her dreams.
How did that impact me? Well, I went to Harvard too. I graduated and have now returned to Dallas to teach. I fight for my dreams because I had people to support me. I learned from a young age how to dream, how to aspire, how to work hard to accomplish goals I set for myself. Not all of our students have that. As teachers, we have to take care to not create limits for our students. We have to resist the urge to give up. Some can't read, some refuse to learn, but at this age, anything really is possible, but our students have to fight much harder than their peers in more recognized, better performing schools.
Why is college signing day important? Because it's an opportunity to remember what is possible and encourage our students to reach for it.
Response to HuffPo article
How did that impact me? Well, I went to Harvard too. I graduated and have now returned to Dallas to teach. I fight for my dreams because I had people to support me. I learned from a young age how to dream, how to aspire, how to work hard to accomplish goals I set for myself. Not all of our students have that. As teachers, we have to take care to not create limits for our students. We have to resist the urge to give up. Some can't read, some refuse to learn, but at this age, anything really is possible, but our students have to fight much harder than their peers in more recognized, better performing schools.
Why is college signing day important? Because it's an opportunity to remember what is possible and encourage our students to reach for it.
Response to HuffPo article
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