Throughout my life, my life choices have always been oriented around my community and their needs. Growing up in the South Bronx, anyone can find it easy to understand that a community like mine has a lot of disadvantages when it comes to opportunities, life expectancy, the criminal justice system, and safety. Given that my community is located in the poorest congressional district in the nation, it’s hard to rely on anyone to change our daily living. Having effective change for the greater good always has to start from within the community. I want to be able to change the corrupted Criminal Justice system for Black People in America, every way I can. With a studies like Africana Studies, Political Science, and Education, I know I can sharpen my knowledge and value of Justice in its actual definition: For Everyone. Education in my community is something that isn’t taken seriously most of the time. It can be hard to find multiple people with a college degree, or highschool diploma in the South bronx. Given the background of my community, Education is enforced heavily, as the adults want the youth to succeed. Even with so much support from others, teenagers fall easily down the rabbit hole of gangs, violence, and suicides- the streets call louder than books. Education for others who are fortunate enough to have it in my community, often do the work, just to do it. They don’t have much interest in school, they “do what they have to do” to get that diploma and leave the Bronx. There are 2 versions of Education in my community. One version that currently lives, is living by the curriculum. Learning a unit, memorizing information on the unit, taking a test on the unit, getting a good grade for the unit, graduating, and receiving the diploma. On the other hand, the other version of Education is everything that was listed, but authentically being cognizant of the unit. Observing and questioning the unit, investing additional time to understand that unit. Education should come from within. It should be the other hand of Education. Education should allow someone to have the willpower to actually be educated. Education can give you the ability to change the community with the knowledge you decide to relay. Education is not only the choice to learn something, it’s also a decision to spread knowledgeable information to those who would benefit from it, the most.

Education in my community is something that isn’t taken seriously most of the time. It can be hard to find multiple people with a college degree, or highschool diploma in the South bronx. Given the background of my community, Education is enforced heavily, as the adults want the youth to succeed. Even with so much support from others, teenagers fall easily down the rabbit hole of gangs, violence, and suicides- the streets call louder than books. Education for others who are fortunate enough to have it in my community, often do the work, just to do it. They don’t have much interest in school, they “do what they have to do” to get that diploma and leave the Bronx. There are 2 versions of Education in my community. One version that currently lives, is living by the curriculum. Learning a unit, memorizing information on the unit, taking a test on the unit, getting a good grade for the unit, graduating, and receiving the diploma. On the other hand, the other version of Education is everything that was listed, but authentically being cognizant of the unit. Observing and questioning the unit, investing additional time to understand that unit. Education should come from within. It should be the other hand of Education. Education should allow someone to have the willpower to actually be educated. Education can give you the ability to change the community with the knowledge you decide to relay. Education is not only the choice to learn something, it’s also a decision to spread knowledgeable information to those who would benefit from it, the most.