Being given the opportunity to interview an individual and ask questions that reveal their personal attachments to their cultural identity, I knew the perfect person to select. Having the privilege of working within a very diverse Jr. high school in the local school district has allowed me to work alongside many well educated professionals who are also very diverse, and offer themselves on a deeper level to the students they assist. For my interview I chose an educator who I encounter on a daily basis in the Special Education Department. Maureen Ieta has worked for the school district for 25years. Maureen is an individual that I feel puts all of her heart and soul into the students she comes in contact with and before long a nurturing connection
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She finished her high school years at Bishop Hafey High School, and stressed all the children in her neighborhood followed the same path for education and spiritual growth. She considered her family the typical ordinary Italian family, even though her parents made sure she was aware she was American Italian. On Sundays in Maureen’s household her family attended Sunday Mass followed by a Sunday family dinner that normally offered some sort of pasta dish along with meatballs and homemade Italian desserts. It was at this time that Maureen learned about her cultural identity from the stories her parents shared at the dinner table. The stories were filled with the struggles their family members before them endured to provide for their families. From these conversations came life lessons instilled in Maureen. She believes in hard work, is thankful for the many blessings bestowed upon her, and never forgets to always show the upmost respect for her elders as well as the kindness that emanates from her selflessness. With all that being said, she made a point to stress that her parents wanted the life of their children to be easier than the struggles they endured to provide for themselves and their families. In order for that to happen her parents stressed the importance of a proper education. With her father’s direction, Maureen was given the foundation of ethics and values to become anything she desired in her life to become, but to know it would only happen though hard work. He parents wanted her to take advantage of the opportunities the American way of life offered, but insisted whatever she decided to do should make a positive impact on her as well as others for the greater good. Nothing is free, if you want something work for, but remember where you came from and always lend a hand to those in need.
She finished her high school years at Bishop Hafey High School, and stressed all the children in her neighborhood followed the same path for education and spiritual growth. She considered her family the typical ordinary Italian family, even though her parents made sure she was aware she was American Italian. On Sundays in Maureen’s household her family attended Sunday Mass followed by a Sunday family dinner that normally offered some sort of pasta dish along with meatballs and homemade Italian desserts. It was at this time that Maureen learned about her cultural identity from the stories her parents shared at the dinner table. The stories were filled with the struggles their family members before them endured to provide for their families. From these conversations came life lessons instilled in Maureen. She believes in hard work, is thankful for the many blessings bestowed upon her, and never forgets to always show the upmost respect for her elders as well as the kindness that emanates from her selflessness. With all that being said, she made a point to stress that her parents wanted the life of their children to be easier than the struggles they endured to provide for themselves and their families. In order for that to happen her parents stressed the importance of a proper education. With her father’s direction, Maureen was given the foundation of ethics and values to become anything she desired in her life to become, but to know it would only happen though hard work. He parents wanted her to take advantage of the opportunities the American way of life offered, but insisted whatever she decided to do should make a positive impact on her as well as others for the greater good. Nothing is free, if you want something work for, but remember where you came from and always lend a hand to those in need.