Education Reflection Paper

Neither of my parents went to college after high school. My mom got married at 18 and had my oldest brother shortly after. My dad was 4 years older, but instead of going to school, he stayed home to stay with a girlfriend. His girlfriend broke up with him shortly after, and it seemed too late to go away to college. Eventually he met my mom and they married. Though neither of them attended college, both of them are extremely intellectual. My mother raised my older brother and sister until they were 14 and 12, then she had me and my younger sister. Therefor, my mother’s job was primarily her children. My mom is very smart, and a very hard worker. She came from a family that was very poor and thus, she is a survivalist. My mother is a strong woman

Even though neither of my parents were highly educated, they did enforce strong educational influences on us kids. However, we were taught that we could learn in all areas of life beyond just the classroom; I believe that is a powerful thing. To develop the most wisdom, education should come from all areas of life. A vital part of education is found in the school system. Education within schools is a powerful thing. I believe, it is the building blocks of building a well-rounded individual and thus, makes society better. I remember my first day of kindergarten, or maybe I don’t and my parents reminded me. Either way, I was kicking, screaming, and crying. I couldn’t understand why my sister, who was three at the time, didn’t have to go to this horrible place and I did. However, once I got in my class I began to make friends. The development of social skills begins at an early age in the school setting. Teachers encourage children to make friends, and be kind, essential tools to molding a healthy individual. Beyond teaching me to make friends, I also learned a lot of valuable skills while going through

I often say “everything I learned, I learned from my mother,” because it is, to an extent, very true. I learned so many valuable things from my parents that it would be hard not to include them as contributors to my intellectuality. My parents taught me so many useful things that have proven to be as useful, if not more than the topics covered in school. My dad taught me how to change a tire, balance a checkbook, and do my taxes. My mom taught me how to cook, how to do my own laundry, and how to take care of someone who is injured or sick. I know, my family sounds like the cliche patriarchy of American Society, but they also taught me so much more. All of the skills I just listed have proven to be very valuable in the real world. On the other hand, my parents also taught me to love unconditionally, to care for people, and to be good to myself; these are things that are way more valuable in life than knowing pi = 3.145… I know how to be a good friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend, and one day wife and mother, because of my parents. Some of these traits come naturally, but most of them are learned behaviors. Therefor, I believe home life is an equally important educator. Besides simply home life, I have learned plenty through interactions in other relationships. I have learned from friends and boyfriends, how to be a better person and how to support other people. I have also