I've been on the run for 19 years---that's right, ever since I was in diapers. I wasn't always an outlaw, though. Somewhere far in the east, in a land they call Palestine, I came to this globe through Jerusalem. Over there, my kin and I were just like any other folk: basking in the beauty of the land, bustling from town to town, visiting folk, eating good food, and having a downright good time. Then, us countryfolk moved west, where I've been living as an outlaw for the past 15 years.

Life in the east taught me the necessary skills I needed to survive. I learned mannerisms, piety, and how to maintain the homestead both for myself and for my family. The east taught me about what family means and its importance. I saw the good, the bad, and the extraordinarily ugly (I saw these in the west, too), but all have guided me in becoming the outlaw I am today.

When I came to the west, I became an outlaw by challenging norms and venturing outside the bounds of customary society. Here, I was introduced to city-folk, and I learned how to read and write amongst them. They reshaped my way of thinking, and I was introduced to a different way of living---far different than the way of the east.

Yet, the way of the east remained in my heart, and I longed for the days of sultry simplicity. As I embark on my journey towards becoming a teacher, I hope I can figure out what brought me to the west, and if the journey was worth it.

Becoming a teacher is more than a solitary expedition. It's an opportunity to teach others about how different we are. You see, difference doesn't beget division; difference bonds us together like chicken in a coop.

Growing up in the west, I always saw schooling as an escape from the daily commotion of life. When I sat down in the classroom, my teacher had my full attention, and I was eager to learn more and more each day. Now that I'm aiming to become a teacher-folk myself, I see that school isn't just an escape. It's where us youngsters go to figure out who we are before we figure out where we are. The world is big and mighty, and it requires more than good boots and a long lasso to round up all its inequalities, inner workings, problems and answers. My students will learn to tackle this large feat before venturing on their own. I'll allow for a hunk of opportunities for them to explore their interests and define themselves. I'll tell them all about the east, and how vast and beautiful the globe is, and encourage them to step outside the grasslands and into the wild.