-Brent Graham '09

     It has been a long and eventful week and I am sad that this is our final day in the city. I have come to enjoy this class almost more than the class I taught for two weeks. The differences are numerous but it is the similarities that make me smile. The questioning demeanor of the students is the same as back in Crawfordsville, the curiosity of how old I am and if I’m married, its the age and it is a pleasant surprise that in the city the same questioning and energetic atmosphere can exist. The biggest difference here as compared to Crawfordsville is the racial diversity. There is a much larger minority population here than at at home. It is not something that changes the things that are taught but rather how they are taught. At home we try to teach about other cultures since there is such a lack of diversity. Here the teachers must teach to diversity. it is a different approach. Today the students will be performing there annual spring assembly. It is something that I am looking forward to seeing. The classes present short performances highlighting what they learned or what they excel at. In the sixth grade the other class is going to recite slam poetry to drums. What I can’t wait to see though is my class perform their Hp-Hop dance. They have been working on it for weeks. I am sad to leave this wonderful community that I have come to love. I was tentative at first but now I am comfortable in the city and in a school environment that I have never seen before. I would love to have more experiences like this in the future and will even consider teaching in a city school when I complete the education program. it is something I would have never said before today. That simple fact helps me realize how valuable this experience has been.