Emely Dominguez

I was born in California, but I grew up in Mexico until I was 18. I decided to move to the states with the goal of continuing my higher education. My dad is an engineer that has to work at an early age to be able to finish his studies. My mom couldn't complete a degree because she had to work to help my grandparents financially. Even though my mom couldn't continue learning at school, she has always been passionate about learning new things. 

When I decided to leave my country to start a new life in a new country, since then I have been learning more than I ever thought I could possibly think. Being by myself and having to learn a new language, learn how to adapt to a new country and culture was very challenging at first. Having to learn the history of this country, the injustices, and what things are affecting the society was something that didn't happen in one day. Learning to have my own criteria and position in a country that is very segregated, was the same as having to choose a sweet or a sour gummy. The word “learn” is something very present in my life for the past years, by simply learning how to say popote (Straw) in English, by also learning about boarding school in America and how that affects the Indigenous communities. I strongly believe that knowledge is power, because you may not change the entire world, but maybe you can change a small part of it. 

I have also learned that we all learn differently and with different timing, and it is important to acknowledge that never is late to learn something new.

Same as you, my early education that I received in Mexico was based on memorizing instead of learning. The education system in Mexico is very different than here, you can't choose what classes you want to take as electives, all the students have to take the same classes doesn't matter what. And I remember having to study for my test, and instead of learning I was simply memorizing to be able to pass a class and continue to the next year. I remember seeing the same 40 students that I started high school with, every single day, every minute, every class because there was no other choice. 

I also started to like school and learning more when I started my education in the US, because I was placed in classes that were interesting for me and it didn't feel that I had to learn, because I was learning without the necessity to feel pressure about it. 

I love that you incorporate this phrase of “through learning, I learn more than what was taught” It is really powerful because it demonstrates that learning is not necessarily something that needs to be forced or tedious.

After reading Teaching to transgress Chapter 2 I agree with Hooks (1994) that the Revolution of values promises a multicultural change. Many people assume that racism doesn't exist anymore, and that any minority person has access to social equality and can achieve economic self-sufficiency. Hooks argue that people's “capacity to face reality is severely diminished as is our will to intervene and change unjust circumstances” (p. 29), this is the result of the misinformation and layers of lies that we have taught and learned. We live in a conformist society that decides to believe what the majority thinks instead of creating its own criteria.

Delgado (1989) Storytelling for Oppositionists and Others (p.2413), talks about the erroneous predominant mentality where the world is justified as it is, in other words with the whites on top and the browns and blacks on the bottom. Many times the dominant race says it wants change, however, for there to be a revolution of values, struggle and sacrifice must be embraced, where not all figures and positions of authority are white. And I do agree with that, we need to start by renewing our set minds and transforming our educational system to more cultural diversity.

I grew up with the value of equity, my mom always told me that it doesn't matter your background, we all deserve the same types of opportunity in life. I strongly believe that teaching this value will make a better environment among the students, by creating a safe space where all students feel they belong and are free to be themselve. If we implement this value in our children at home and school at an early age, many problems like bullying and racism won't be as much as how it is. 

I would like to improve the support, resources and opportunities for English Second Language students, by implementing programs that focus on helping them to have a smooth transition when learning English. By doing this they will improve their academic and social skills. 

A strategy that could be potentially best for students is to read, write and speak first in their first language and then try to do it now in English.They will start to do world association with words in their first language and English. By doing this, the school dropout rate of the minority class would decrease thanks to the support they receive.