Mrs. Song Reflection

When August of sophomore year rolled around and I began my classes, I did not expect all that I would encounter in my English class. From the beginning, this class proved to be more than just exceptional literature lessons. I have been homeschooled since kindergarten, and since I began high school, I have participated in many small classes lead by teachers of my community. This particular class, presented by one of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Song, changed the way I view the world, and allowed me to transition from childhood to adulthood within my culture. As the class proceeded, Mrs. Song became a substantial influence to me, and she mentored me in innumerable ways. Through her instruction, I have grown academically, emotionally, and mentally.
Song presented to us was What is the What, a story based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese child refugee who immigrated to the United States. As a result of studying this book, we were able study the reality of refugees in America in depth. This book and the lessons Mrs. Song taught us through it was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my academic career. Mrs. Song was always very fond of multi-faceted ways of teaching. Though her main job was to instruct us through our literature, she often used movies, hands-on experiences, and personal stories to teach us just how prominent these topics covered in our books were to every day life. For example, while studying What Is The What, Mrs. Song took us on a field trip to the refugee offices of Nashville, TN, where we were instructed by the directors and refugees of the program about just how prevalent of a hub that Nashville is for refugees. The director brought awareness to the fact that most people do not understand how difficult it is to adjust to America, how important it is for those that come from other countries to adjust fully, and how they lack the recognition that other programs possess. These experiences just fueled my desire to learn more about refugees in my community and how to serve them. Following this Nashville visit, Mrs. Song introduced us to a friend of hers that was a refugee from ___ (Somalia?). She owned a sewing shop in my hometown, and invited us to her shop to tell us about her life and journey as a refugee. My eyes were opened to the hardship that people have faced to come to America and the extreme perseverance that those possessed to come here. Once the different displays of hardships that refugees have to face in order to come to America were brought to my attention, it gave me the will to pursue things I desire with more perseverance and