Finding MY Why in Chi!

I couldn't have imagined a more amazing, productive and inspiring spring break experience. Being in a new city with 14 strangers and teaching students took me out of my comfort zone and made me vulnerable in so many ways. Although I don't have teaching experience, I didn't think that tutoring or grading papers could be that hard. Boy was I wrong.  As a communication major, I consider myself a decent communicator.  Teaching definitely challenged my communication skills. I remember helping a Freshman with what I thought was a simple Algebra problems. It wasn't as easy as I thought. I really had to break down the problem in order for him to understand it.  This incident alone was enough for me gain a greater appreciation for how hard it is to be a teacher.  

I think back to the night of reflection when John asked "what is your why". I immediately burst into tears because for the first time I felt I had purpose. I thought about my own story and why education means so much to me.  I grew up a Baltimore County, Maryland, an area that also has some struggling schools. Like the students a Muchin, I was afforded the opportunity to attend one of the better schools in my area.  My education has opened so many doors that would have otherwise been locked. Before this experience, I never really though about why education was important to me, I just knew that it was.  Being in Chicago was my way of paying it forward and showing students that you do not have to be a product of your environment. Because of this experience, I have learned so much about myself and the world. I fell in love with the city of Chicago and return home with 14 wonderful new friends! I am so thankful for this experience. 

They Call Me "BOGO"

If only I had the time or the words to talk about the transformation from "Abisola" to "BOGO." Once again, I found myself surrounded by people I barely knew in a place that I had never been, doing something I wasn't exactly comfortable with--a recipe for an awesome AB experience! Throughout my time in Chicago, I gained a much deeper appreciation for teachers and what they work through as well as the complications in the public education system. Several of the education majors on the trip exposed me to the passion and determination that I had taken for granted during my primary education. The students came to class with a desire to learn and be challenged but they also showed up every day just wanting to feel like a kid. After all, that's what they were! Life can harden us, ripen us far before we're ready to be plucked and shared with the world. I saw how people deal with it, work through it and come out on top!

What I Took From #ASBae2015

Going into this trip, I had no expectations.  All I knew was that I was so excited to travel to a major city I had never been before. Being in the city of Chicago was at the forefront of my mind rather than service, but shortly after arriving, I was quickly sucked into the atmosphere of the students and faculty of Muchin College Prep.

Muchin was unlike any school I had ever seen. When we walked in the first day,  it looked like we entered a nice hotel when in fact, the school was on the 7th floor of the high rise building.  The doors opened once we reached the floor and my mouth dropped.  Before my eyes was a modern looking academic town and I was amused at the fact that a charter school with a population of over 800 students could fit up there. Only in the city I guess.  In comparison to the high school I attended, Muchin was very strict, so strict at times that I thought the discipline may be a little over bearing. If that kind of no-nonsense attitude would've been implemented at my high school, it wouldn't have gone over too well with my classmates. What I loved so much about the Muchin students was that despite the strict nature of the school, they understood that it was good for them. After talking to several of the students I realized that the majority of them knew that the purpose of the rules and policies they was to teach them good work ethic and behavior and prepare them for graduation and carry values on to college. The majority of them also knew that their teachers got on their backs so much because they cared. The support and passion that I witnessed among the teaching staff really touched me because that's something my school lacked. All week I couldn't help, but think how much better public schools across the nation would be if their school adopted a similar structure and was filled with inspiring educators who the students wanted to impress and make proud.

Although I didn't apply for this trip wanting to be an educator and still don't desire to become one, this experience definitely confirmed how much I want to be involved with the youth as part of my career. The youth determine the outcome of the future and as they're navigating the highs and lows of life I want to serve as a mentor and motivator for them in hopes of being a voice of reassurance during their journey. My goal is to  reach as many as I can and help them all believe that they matter.

All and all I'm so thankful for this trip and that I got to spend an entire week with great people. Unforgettable time!