Craduation Speech

“Nicole is a cross between a cuddly puppy dog and a stubborn bull. Sometimes, she is very sweet and eager to please, but other times she digs her heels in and refuses to do her work altogether. This child is full of zest!” Miss. Carol, my former Kindergarten teacher

I grew up in a small and affluent town, tucked away in a sleepy corner of New England, where education at all levels was deemed essential. College was simply viewed as the next logical stepping stone in life after high school. In my seemingly homogeneous community, it sometimes appeared as if you were only as good, or as smart, as the college you went on to attend. Both of my parents were college graduates. My father was a hard working, blue collar, self-employed contractor,
It has been a roller coaster complete with catapulting highs, plummeting lows, and lots of twists and turns. When I walked into my classroom on the first day of school, I saw 26 smiling students sitting before me, ready to learn. They had potential beyond belief, and looked at me like I was their role model, friend, teacher, and worst enemy, all in one. I enjoyed my first few days of teaching, of making a difference, and it seemed like nothing in the world could stop me. However, on the third day of school one of my fourth grade students stole my cell phone. I could not believe one of my own students had violated my trust. I wanted to quit right then and there. I wanted to give up. Soon after, however, I realized something important. I realized that in so many ways, these children had already been given up on. They had given up on at home, by society, and even at school. For many of my students, life so far has been anything but easy. They come from diverse backgrounds and face a multitude of issues including poverty, homelessness, and abuse. I became determined to not give up on these students; I was going to find a way to reach