Educational Journey Map

I took this time to create my own journey map and reflect on my story.

From pre-k to about 2nd grade my experience was very positive. I enjoyed learning, I had great teachers, made friends easily, and the spaces I was in were fun and creative. In 3rd grade, I was put into a “gifted and talented” program. I say this in quotes because I really have no idea what qualified me for this program. I never thought about myself as any smarter or better than other students in class. I loved to read, I used to read to my dog, and we got to read “bigger” books and do special projects. We (there were four of us) would leave class during reading time and work with the reading specialist.

Sometime in 4th grade was my first bad experience in school. For some reason, could’ve been distracted, I didn’t finish an assignment in class that day and had to stay after school with my teacher to finish it. She was a good teacher, not the warm and fuzzy kind but good. I didn’t think much of it she never made me feel like I was in trouble until my mom came to pick me up and she was not happy with me saying that this was “embarrassing” when up until that point I hadn’t felt embarrassed at all. Maybe she thought I was in actual trouble at school and not that I just needed to finish up an assignment but then again who keeps a kid after school over one assignment. 

At the end of 4th grade, we moved to a new town, we had moved a lot when I was in elementary school but always in the same town. So I started 5th grade (middle school) in a new town with all new people where a grade has about 30 students total. They didn’t get a lot of new kids so I was very much so every student-focused. I didn’t realize it until much later in life but I was farther behind than everyone else academically. I hadn’t learned a lot of the math they already knew. Also during this year, my dad was diagnosed with melanoma cancer and my parents were clearly very distracted going back and forth to Boston to really be there for me to adjust. This is no hate on my parents at all they had a lot going on and I don’t think they felt they needed to worry about me because I had always been a good student. I think middle school is tough for everyone who just wants to be liked and I so badly wanted to be liked. I wanted to fit in more than anything, I wanted attention, and I started to struggle academically. I had started to experience teachers that weren’t so nice, and that didn’t take the time to be kind to me so I stopped trying so hard and they began to care less and less. I also think this is where my mental health began to come forward.

In high school I was able to get involved more, I was on the swim team (I had always been on a swim team but this was the first school team I was on), and I joined the marching band which means my elective period was also in the band. Being able to spend time with other people my age in the band was great, I formed new friendships quickly with all the hours we spent during, after school, and on the weekends. I really felt like I had a group of people and a passion. I also started my first job in after school during this time and really enjoyed working with youth. 

My mom is a teacher, most of her siblings are teachers, and a lot of my friends in high school were going to be teachers, so what did I decide to study in college? Teaching. The first year I didn’t really think anything of it, you mostly take gen. Eds, which is basically like taking another year of high school. But as we got more into education classes I was like “this is not my vibe” it felt like the same bad experiences I had with middle school, not making real connections with youth. And while yes I could’ve been the change I needed a space where I could foster and build on those skills. So I took a YDEV class and found my people. I switched my major, took a victory lap (extra year to finish undergrad), graduated, and entered the field.