A Black Girl and Her Education 

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In this society, being an African-American woman comes with a plethora of discrimination and prejudicial acts. My skin color has and will continue to always be deflected throughout the education system because of the stereotypical and discriminatory beliefs that society upholds. I grew up, to me,  in a really nice African-American neighborhood, to others, maybe average or ordinary. Everyone knew everybody and I could easily walk around the corner to go to school or church; however, that all quickly changed when I had to move to a more upper-level side of Houston, due to some unsafety that was occurring in my old neighborhood. I then moved to The Woodlands, where African-Americans were less to come by. I had to attend an entirely new school district; basically, I had to start life over again. Yet, from elementary school all the way through 7th grade while I was living in that certain area, I was awarded many academic achievements that separated my skin color and my mental skills. 

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Being black, it is hard to separate your skin color and your educational abilities, especially if you come from places that are viewed as “ghetto” or “the hood”. For thirteen years I was raised in an average neighborhood that just happened to be filled with mostly African-American residents. The elementary school was so close that it was a two-minute walking distance from my house where I lived. Typical people would believe that during that time we didn’t learn or pursue anything, however, I believe that I was taught way beyond the typical elementary school student. Taking Spanish classes in the first grade through the fifth, learning in-depth history and mathematics, and even fun and effective physical education courses as well. I maintained perfect attendance from Kindergarten to Fifth grade and also managed A-B Honor Roll as well. They would hold an Assembly once a month, acknowledging students and their extensive education experience. At every assembly, I was granted an award that not only satisfied me and my family but was a helpful mental note that allowed me to further my educational strengths. I believe that elementary school was a striving factor for me and a lot of the other students that I grew up with because not only were we being brought up in an African-American community, but we were making a distinct amount of awards and achievements that easily made our community strive even more! 

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Once I got to the eighth grade, I was faced with a roadblock in terms of my education. I moved from my home all the way to the other side of Houston, which was known as a Caucasian based society. Moving from my normal to the unordinary, took me far out of my comfort zone because I not only had to try and make new friends and fit in, but I also had to adapt to an entirely unknown curriculum.  The school district, Conroe ISD, was known as a majority white district, focusing on the adaptation of education and sports. I began to wonder if I would ever be subsided due to my skin color, yet I knew that if I would do good through my old habits and that I can succeed in a new atmosphere. Once I began to get comfortable in myself and the community that I was placed in, I began to really mature educationally. I still managed the perfect attendance and the honor roll level, yet I did face a lot more trails in terms of some courses. Classes were harder and people were not as friendly, but I did have a lot of resources that assisted me in progressing more throughout the school year and throughout high school as well. 

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Now I attend the University of Texas at San Antonio majoring in Mass Communications with a Public Relations concentration, and I honestly am enjoying my freshman experience. Despite the many distractions that are placed around us students, I am completely focused on not only bettering my educational experiences, but bettering my networking and business skills as well. I believe that I still have more to experience and deliver; wholeheartedly, I know that I will soon achieve more than what I have already had. Being at UTSA, I have not only met a distinct amount of individuals, but I also grew closer with adapting to the person that I want to grow into professionally. The number of dreams and goals that I have established throughout this first-year experience are only a reflection of the skills and abilities that I have grown and I am so ready to put those dream into reality.