Unpacking

Training is pushing me to unpack far more than just my physical belongings.

A recurring theme through this first week of training has been to check your privilege. I have really enjoyed the challenge presented to all teachers starting on Move In day and continuing in at least one session every day. Checking my privilege is not a new concept. It is something I have worked on since learning about the concept of privilege sometime in college. My life experiences are something that ground me in this reality. They help me understand the world around me. These experiences can help me create connections to the people around me as well as push those people away.

I have enjoyed the discomfort of the conversations this week. Feeling confused and overwhelmed and lost is critical to understanding one's place in the world as well as components of other individual's struggles. The scenario in one session left me nearly speechless. It was something similar to "You are a single mother of a four year old child (it was not clear if this child was undocumented or not) and you live in a one bedroom apartment with four other strangers. You take your child to work and go to work. Some one shouts 'La Migra' and you are put in handcuffs and taken to a detention center. You do not know the number to your child's school. What do you do?"

I came up with no other response than "cry". Even days after this session, I am left without an answer. Others in the room suggested try to get a lawyer or find a way to get your child to come with you, but neither seemed practical. This was only one of the sessions this week. It has been a heavy week full of difficult questions and discussions. I feel my capacity of understanding and empathy increasing and I know that these encounters will make me a better teacher and a better person. I am excited to have more difficult conversations as the summer continues and when I reach my school in the fall.

A nice relaxing weekend after such a week is certainly welcome and more than appreciated. Taking the time to sit and think, sleep in, and explore this new city has been recharging. There is an entire week still ahead with training diving into preparation for the classroom. This summer, I will be teaching High School Biology. A bit of a stretch for my 4-8 Generalist certification, but enjoyable nonetheless. It seems as though that year of Biology in college will pay off after all.

This means week one is complete, six weeks left! Bring on the summer!