My elementary school experience was unusual. In a school with less than one hundred kids, I prided myself on being able to go through the grades and name every child along with their teachers. The Jubilee School is in an old West Philadelphia house. The founder, Karen Falcon, created the school wanting young children to get an education that involved learning about social justice and African-American history. During my time as a student there, I helped create an anti police brutality children's campaign. We led several marches and successfully petitioned for a historical marker at the site of the MOVE bombing. Jubilee also has a music program for all students where we were taught violin throughout our time there, along with horns and percussion once we reached fifth and sixth grade. In fourth grade I wrote a persuasive essay titled, “Why Everyone Should listen to Jazz.” Creativity flourishes in an environment that allows one to explore. We learned improvisation through many jam sessions. After being taught about the Great Migration and Harlem Renaissance, many of us took it upon ourselves to continue additional research on the web and with people we knew. Jubilee teaches students to prioritize their community. This lays the groundwork for students to be involved in mutual aid work throughout their lives.

This year, I went back to Jubilee. Starting in January, I worked in aftercare every week. During the three hours I was there, I assisted with homework and created activities for pre-k through sixth graders. Being back in a place so pivotal to my growing up was truly a one of a kind experience, because I was able to understand the impact that teachers have on students. Besides just curriculum, students learn how to interact with the world.