I am starting this in hopes of having a space to articulate more serious ideas, as opposed to the cryptic, teen-angst drama that fills my xanga (www.xanga.com/mighty_Joooood). Most importantly, I want to chronicle my experience working in the public secondary education sector as a college advisor/teacher/social worker/mentor to underprivileged, first generation college bound students. Although it's about one month into the school year, I am starting the core of my work now and I think I need a space to articulate reflections on my experiences with Berkeley High youth in order to better understand this work I do and the lives of my students.
The reason why the program I work for (the YMCA-created Y-Scholars) exists is because of the effects of institutionalized racism, as many of the students are black and latin@, among other minorities, with low-income families. Public education is set up so that many of them will be left behind, which is where Y-Scholars steps in to give these bright kids with massive potential the tools and support they need to be successful in high school and get in the door to higher education.
That said, I hope to continue with my academic reading, so perhaps this can also be a space for me to express what I think of any future readings. Right now, I am looking at an anthology called Screaming Monkeys (edited by M. Evelina Galang), a collection of works relating to how Asian Americans are viewed in this country. With that, I am warning you now that this blog may well become my scream, to be heard loud and clear for the next however many days, weeks, or months as I live in this world and experiencing its many -isms.
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