One day at work a handful of
co-workers and I got into a conversation that soon turned humorous when one
co-worker asked, “So, what’d you do for money in college?” There was instant
giggling because the question
sounded scandalous. Suddenly, we all started sharing different stories about
our experiences working at part-time jobs before getting into full-time
positions. A handful of us had done internships, one person had an interesting
story about dressing up in a costume for kids’ parties, another worked at an
amusement park, and I started thinking about my time as a childcare provider, office
intern for a local magazine, and finally my position as an office temp. The
grind through college wasn’t an easy one. But now I can really appreciate that
time in my life of juggling multiple jobs, and working through school. Each
position helped me grow, taught me a lot about myself, and how to work with
other people. When I was a freshman in college my parents didn’t want me to
work because they wanted me to focus on school, and I remember my father
saying, “Don’t get desperate for money and start doing something like hitting
the strip club.” I wasn’t insulted because I know he was joking, but there are
women and perhaps some men, that may be stripping to pay their way through
college. While I wouldn’t recommend that option, I judge no one. College is
expensive and if you can find a way to pay for it that isn’t illegal or putting
yourself or anyone else in danger, do what you have to do, I guess.
I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...