“Understanding your privilege”
- Tell us how you managed to get where you are in life today: your academic degree, teaching position etc.
I have managed and succeeded to get where I am today with a great deal of determination or support. To be in the position that I am today has taken hard-work, tenacity and resilience. I have fallen down many times, but never gave up and kept standing up on my two feet regardless the struggle. Part of my life journey has been proving to myself and others that I am good and strong enough to achieve what I want. I have worked hard to demonstrate that I have what it takes in order to create change and be “somewhat” in control of my own life. Having clear goals and dreams has also helped me achieve what I’ve wanted in life. By having a dream or goal, a path can be created to work on and to keep in mind. I also have been able to complete things in life with the social connections through the relationships cultivated or bestowed upon me. For example, my Russian professor at the University of Oregon referred Middlebury College to me in 2016 and even offered a letter of recommendation as she is Middlebury alumni herself. Without her recommendation, who knows if I ever would have attended the college in VT or complete studies at MIIS.
- What kind of support did you receive? (financial, pastoral, collegial, friendship, family, social networks, etc)
I would not be able to be where I am today without all of the help that I have received in the past. Throughout life I have had emotional support from family and friends. There were times when I had a great amount of support. I started working when I was 15 years old and have been working ever since. From an early age, I realized the importance of being self sufficient and understood that one cannot always rely on others. Since then, I have tried to find or create ways in order for me to support myself, whether that be emotionally, physically or financially. However, one thing I learned early in childhood, is that we all need help sometimes. My parents taught me to not be afraid to ask for help because one most likely will not receive any help unless they ask. We have to find ways to come and work together because at the end of the day, humanity is all we have. The worst part is how some of these supporting resources are allocated. Some people have the courage and strength to ask for help, but more often than not, a lack of resources and social justices can halter individuals receiving the care truly need.
- How equally do you think these support systems are distributed in the society you grew up?
Unfortunately, I think the support systems are distributed very unevenly. Many of these support systems are divided unevenly due to differences in race, age, sex, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, financial status and more. Many young or maturing individuals lack emotional support from family, friends or loved ones and just the emotional support alone can truly build or break someone. Starting at the individual level and going to the societal, many support systems or resources are not dispersed adequately within various contexts. This is unfortunate for many individuals because it does not offer a chance to break free of the chains that they are trapped within. Through support, education, wisdom, activism and social justice, individuals can be empowered to create a better life and experiences from themselves and others. Through social justice, support systems are accessible for more hopefully dispersed across more contexts and geographical areas.
- How do you think these support systems shape your story of fighting injustices in the society or in educational contexts?
I believe that these support systems or lack of truly do shape my story of who I am and what I am wanting to fight for. At this point in my life, I am wanting to fight against injustice and help empower any individual on their own path. As a globalized citizen and future educator, I am always looking for ways to leave places and people better than how it was found. I also think that language educators and teachers are individuals, which can cause positive change in someone’s life through effective education and support.
Hi Josh,
Thanks for this reflection. What you said about your parents teaching you not to be afraid to ask for help really resonated with me especially when I think about the “it’s all me culture” in the States. I find it really difficult to understand sometimes that students do not really share their concerns with me and I end up finding about these little things that they held in for a whole semester – which actually could have been easily fixed/addressed/met if they had told me! It is more alarming when you think about the fact that these very same people are going to be teachers. What kind of an image or persona are we displaying to our students when we are “all perfect” and need not anyone’s help? Yet, humility sadly is not a virtue in this country but often a sign of weakness. I think its emphasis on humility is one of the many reasons I appreciate Critical Pedagogy this much.
Josh, your reflection stood out to me because of your honest self awareness and worthy stated goals! It is hard to know when and how to ask for help in our culture. This idea, the angst about asking for help, is unfortunate in our society because everyone needs help at times as you stated. It shouldn’t be something to be ashamed of. However, the expectation is that everyone should be self-sufficient but that most often only happens with a great deal of asked for and/or organized societal help. That you strive for the former yet see the value of the latter is very perceptive. Your stated calling to assist any individual on their respective path, no matter what that path may be, is an honorable goal. It appears to me that you are in the right place (MiiS) and making the right choices (this course for example) to fulfill that goal!