"I Am" Poem

"I am intelligent and determined

I wonder about the morality of humanity

I hear a flower’s tear

I see hatred far and near

I want cohesiveness

I am intelligent and determined

I pretend I am the only girl in the world

I feel invincible

I touch my soul

I worry about my suffering generation

I cry for my generation

I am intelligent and determined

I understand everything I am

I say I am a leader

I dream of success

I try to be uplifting

I hope I am the best

I am intelligent and determined"

Analyzing "Waiting for Superman": Facts, Film and Responses

Waiting for Superman is an amazing movie that will leave you in awe at the state of the education system of the United States. This film is more than a documentary, it is art. The fact that children in the U.S. are deprived of key elements of their education is astonishing. For example, [a recent survey of teenagers by the education advocacy group Common Core found that a quarter could not identify Adolf Hitler, a third did not know that the Bill of Rights guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, and fewer than half knew that the Civil War took place between 1850 and 1900. Nearly 20 percent did not know who the U.S. fought in World War II, eleven percent thought that Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president forced from office by the Watergate scandal, and another 11 percent thought it was Harry Truman.]. “Clueless in America” By Bob Herbert http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19786.htm

This fact is startling and unacceptable, but unfortunately, it is true. Some statistic reports of children in the United States education system are appalling and many Americans are frequently startled and offended by these reports. Many often choose to rebel against these findings and label them as fabrications just as the producers, creators and participants of the film were accused of fabricating and exaggerating the truth. However, as a child that was educated in public schools and as the child of a public school educator, I know how this particular system operates and caring for students whole heartedly and ensuring their absolute success is not the priority of a majority of these establishments. The priority is meeting quotas and offering children “drive-by” educations (simply put: instilling students with what the school wants the children to know rather than what the child needs to know for complete triumph in life). Most schools have one specific amount of standardized tests and a specific amount of lessons to relay by the end of the school year.  When these deadlines aren’t met, this draws negative attention to the institution and occasionally causes the school to lose some of its funding. School administrators do not want this to occur, so they place obscene amounts of energy into drilling state requirements into the minds of the children versus drilling knowledge that the children will remember and find value in as adults. 

This film offered a mirror to the current pitiful state of American public school systems. For some odd reason, America has never liked having attention brought to its shortcomings; this is why “Waiting for Superman” was criticed by many as an exaggeration. Even at the screening of the film held here at The Fort Valley State University, a fellow student that I frequently associate with sincerely believed that many of the characters in the documentary were paid actors, rather than actual citizens that were (are) suffering from this depressive moment in their children’s lives. When I asked him why he thought this, he replied that they sounded scripted and too pitiful. I cannot relate to the scripted belief, but I agree with the characters seeming pitiful and that was an accurate portrayal. This situation is very pitiful. I could relate to the majority of the kids in the film, however I can’t fathom the thought of having my opportunity of a better education placed in the random selection of a lottery, I didn’t even know this circumstance existed, until I was given the chance to see a prolific movie entitled, “Waiting for Superman”. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend you do.



"I am..."

I am... Ashanti Iman Wood. The daughter of a beautiful black woman that raised me in her image, but gave me the ferocious desire to be my own person and make an impact on every life I come in contact with

I am... Phenomenal. My will to do more than what’s asked of me and exceed all limits makes me phenomenal and unforgettable

I am... Intelligent. My mind is elaborate and illustrious. I am more than just an attractive face or a cute little figure. My thoughts are supremely knowledgeable

I am... Superb. Today’s young lady is looked at as average and forgettable. A lot of young people, specifically young blacks (male or female) frequently confine to mediocrity. I am not one of them

I am... Exotic. I take a great deal of pride in who I am and where I come from. There are many African Americans that don’t pay homage to the beginning of our race title: AFRICAN/ Africa!! I do!! I love the fact that there is blood of such powerful ancestors flowing through my body

I am... Memorable. My mission when speaking with someone, whether it’s a prolific conversation or a simple salutation, the other party will remember me or something about me. God gives us all life, a life to live. I spend each day fulfilling his will and my counterparts can oblige me in that fact

I am... African American. To reiterate, I love being a black woman. Deriving from other magnificent African American women and men

I am... Loyal. Loyal is a beautiful definition of my character. Establishing a friendship with me is like an investment in your future. True friends are rare and true friendships are rarer. My love and friendship are organic.  I am honest with myself and my loved ones

I am... Reliable. If I say I am going to do it, before you blink your eye, it’s done. My word is my bond

I am... Priceless. I live not for the Earth or people in it. There is nothing on this planet that can define me or my worth. Materialistic, I m not... priceless, I am

I am... Wise. Being raised predominately by my mother, aunt and grandmother, I was granted with a rare gift. The gift of wisdom runs through my mind and soul every moment of my life. I thank God for my keen sense of wisdom

I am... Sincere. My motives are considerate and heartfelt. Everything I say or do is for the benefit of myself or others that I come in contact with. I don’t live in spite, fear or ill-will, just a pure desire to uplift myself and those around me

I am... Creative. My hands are golden and my mind is a goldmine...with that combination, I can only create treasures. I love to use my creativity when I speak, work and love

I am... Universal. “I am every woman, it’s all in me” I am going to be the best psychologist, the best wife, the best mother, the best friend, simply the best. My versatility and ability to adjust myself to any surrounding as well as make someone from a different background than I comfortable, makes me the universal young woman I am

I am... Independent. I am not defined by the categories society places me in. I am Ashanti. I was born Ashanti and will die Ashanti. I have to know who I am in order to potentially know others. An independent soul is a well and whole soul...I am just that

21st Century Classroom

The 21^st Century classroom will be far different from the current classroom of today, whether elementary, middle, high school or college. The world is advancing fast. The rapid change we experience in society is mind boggling. The children of today know so much. Every child I come in contact with now that mentions their given school assignments to me, leave me in shock. For example, curriculum I struggled with as a child (during my third grade year perhaps), is a daily regiment for today’s first grader and occasionally, kindergarten student.

The year 2011’s methods of learning will seem barbaric. The newest innovations of our time will be called retro. Speaking of which, the youngest of children will commonly have some of the markets leading forms of technology as ideally as a pencil or a three ring binder. I predict that items similar to IPads will be less expensive and less valuable and a suggested article for student of all ages to have in the classroom. Instructors will have to have more knowledge than ever simply because times will be so advanced and children will know everything.

With the economy being as poor as it is, I can almost guarantee that education will not be free for any level of study. It never really has been, but expenses will increase, so will lunch prices. In addition, every school, private or public, will ask for tuition fees of each and every student. This will cause stress and an inability for each child to solely concentrate on their academic criteria. With that being said, I see a radical environment ahead for future classrooms. Many teachers will try to compensate for the shortcomings of society, but it will take many dedicated and enthusiastic educators to do such. Although I see a hostile atmosphere for future pupils, as the old saying says “The show must go on.” Times will be difficult and slightly unpredictable; however, I can say that the classroom of the future will be vibrant and technologically inclined, full of the latest models of computers and gadgets. Children of that era will be brilliant, beyond measure (those that wish to be). They will have the world in the palm of their hands, literally. Technology is all you’ll see in the 21^st Century classroom; almost as cliché as “The Jetsons”. What was once thought to be an elaborately extreme vision of an unrecognizable time will be what one will see in the 21^st Century classroom… at least from my perspective.