My Students

Have you ever felt powerless? My students feel it everyday. My students live in a state that does not value their culture and background and are faced with challenges that no 13 year old should ever face. Despite the problems they have hope for a better world and the power to change their future.

My students live in a rough neighborhood in Arizona where 99% of my students are on free and reduced lunch.

However, even with all their troubles at home and in a state who does not respect their race, my students are driven and motivated to do their best and get a better life for themselves and their families. The 7th grade at my school has become an Ohana, family, and are learning to respect each other and work together towards a common goal, college. I have even been able to buy my students a class shirt that states their class motto: No one gets left behind or forgotten. Class of 2021, which is the year their class will graduate from college. When I presented my students with their first class shirt they have ever had they were so thankful it melted my heart. After talking with my principle, my students were able to wear their class shirts every Thursday instead of their school uniform. Now every Thursday my scholars wear their Ohana shirt with pride, knowing they are college bound

My Project

The class set of Hunger Game books will spring board a unit about power and the ability to rise above power. The definition of Power is: 1) is the ability to control or oppression the world around you and 2) is the ability to protect others, create change, make our own choices, and defend dignity. My students are constantly being controlled by the people in power and I want to use the book Hunger Games to show them while they can not control the world around them at all times they can still make a difference and a better life for themselves. The world has dealt my students a hard hand, but that does not mean that you give up and put your head in the sand. My students need to learn how to stand up for what is right and fight for what they believe in. I will use the book Hunger Games to answer these essential questions ● How do people control you? ● What do you have control over? ● What do you not have control over? ● How do you stay true to yourself when there are greater expectations?

My students are the next generation of leaders for the world and I feel it is my duty to show them that while the world is not always fair or equal, this does not mean that you don't try.

Obsession and racism will always exists, but the only difference my students can make is how they react to it. I want to give them the power to hope and the power to never give up no matter what obstacles are in the way. I think the Hunger Games book will show my students that there is always a way to achieve.