Texas. Wisconsin. Indiana. Michigan. Michigan. Wisconsin. These are the four states and six different homes I have lived in. I am not a failed child of the foster care system, the daughter of a military hero or a lonely kid who was never adopted. In fact, I am fairly average in terms of family. However, my educational experience has been far from average. Intrigued? Here’s my story. I was born to an engineer and a teacher. My father excelled in school and has always expected that I do the same. That, however, was forty years ago. My mother has always kept him in check though because she is still part of the education program. Texas did not impact my education because at six months our little family made its first move. We said goodbye to warm,
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Next came Kentwood, 87.9 miles from Stevensville but by any practical standards, an entirely different universe. With a neighborhood full of kids and a school big enough to not label me “the new girl”, life was momentarily good again. The teachers were nice but it was the children at the school who impacted my experience more than the teachers. Before this school, my educational experience had been predominately white. However, at this school there were children of all nationalities and religion. It opened my eyes to a world that I didn’t know existed. But once again, another move was in store for our family. Fortunately, it has been the last move we have made. Throughout the years, Hartford has grown more and more of my home. Some days I still feel like the new girl that doesn’t belong but maybe that is from the years of always being that girl. Or maybe it is because in this town, where everyone knows everybody, I am still shaking off that outsider shell. While I wouldn’t wish being bounced from house to house like that on anyone, it has taught me life lessons most don’t have. I have learned that nothing in life is permanent and that change shouldn’t been seen as daunting but instead as a chance to experience more of the
Next came Kentwood, 87.9 miles from Stevensville but by any practical standards, an entirely different universe. With a neighborhood full of kids and a school big enough to not label me “the new girl”, life was momentarily good again. The teachers were nice but it was the children at the school who impacted my experience more than the teachers. Before this school, my educational experience had been predominately white. However, at this school there were children of all nationalities and religion. It opened my eyes to a world that I didn’t know existed. But once again, another move was in store for our family. Fortunately, it has been the last move we have made. Throughout the years, Hartford has grown more and more of my home. Some days I still feel like the new girl that doesn’t belong but maybe that is from the years of always being that girl. Or maybe it is because in this town, where everyone knows everybody, I am still shaking off that outsider shell. While I wouldn’t wish being bounced from house to house like that on anyone, it has taught me life lessons most don’t have. I have learned that nothing in life is permanent and that change shouldn’t been seen as daunting but instead as a chance to experience more of the