College Essay On My Mentees

I am one of eight children and the first in my family to attend college. During my freshmen year of college, I did not quite understand what that meant. I volunteered at the local high school and after school program. Most of my mentees came from similar backgrounds- crime infested and crime ridden neighborhoods, and would be the first in their families to graduate. I constantly preached the importance of an education at all levels. Being a Black male attending a predominantly White college, my mentees thought my parents must be wealthy. I had to share personal experiences and prove to my mentees that I was worthy of their trust and relationships. I worked tirelessly to be an exemplary example for not only my younger siblings, but my mentees …show more content…
The past year and a half I have been teaching at KIPP Delta Collegiate High School. During my first year as a teacher, I taught three courses in freshman English and one in English three, attended three professional development meetings per week, and had to construct two sets of lesson plans. To a veteran teacher this is a walk in the park, but it was challenging for a novice teacher who did not major in the area he enjoys teaching. Every day I tried to make sure my students were developing critical thinking skills, questioning texts, and understanding the world around them through literature. I also worked hard to meet the criteria my administration had set for me. My students did not know the countless hours I spent planning lessons, searching for relevant material, or how many times I asked my administration to help me construct realistic objectives for class. Now, I currently teach three courses of Social Emotional Learning, and advise the tenth grade student government association. In working in “the Delta”, I have realized the tremendous need for men of color in education. I am one of three Black male teachers on my entire school campus. It is pertinent that I teach my young men and women of color to empower themselves with the knowledge necessary to seek justice and challenge injustice in their school and community. I must also show my white students