To Mr. Roussell and my 2008 Mentor at Cal State/Chico

  1. grade 1... eating green eggs and ham with ms. moore.
  2. grade 2... laughing at ms. s
  3. grade 3... having 3 teachers
  4. grade 4... being alice1 in alice and wonderland play
  5. grade 5... having mr. blain as my first male teacher
  6. grade 6... being the only 6th grade rep. for student gov't
  7. grade 7... applying to kent
  8. grade 8... being in algebra

On my first day at The Children's Storefront I walked out of my dad's car holding my mom's hand. I was happy to be starting pre-school. Over the next few years I would read books by Dr. Seuss such as Green Eggs and Ham, take care of crickets in the 3rd grade and play Alice in our 4th grade production of Alice and Wonderland. When I stepped up to the 5th grade, I was happy to be elected to Student Government as the first female representative for the class of 2008. The Storefront is an environment where you can learn without being judged by others. It is a place where you can express your inner most feelings without being afraid of what others will say about you. Now that it's my last year I am scared to leave, but hopeful for the future.

While at Children's Storefront I have indulged my love of reading and discovered a surprising love of math. In the 6th grade Ms.Cardwell introduced me to the wonderful works of J.D Salinger, Maya Angelou and Piri Thomas. In the 7th grade I read my first play by William Shakespeare with Ms.Williams. In math my biggest challenge was to stop pushing aside new concepts. Ms. Owen continuously encouraged me to ask questions until I fully understood what was being taught.

Within the next 10 years I would like to have graduated high school and college at the top of both classes. Within the next 15 years I would like to be practicing medicine at a major hospital. I am also looking forward to traveling around the world.

Frederick Douglas said, “Power concedes nothing without demand”. You cannot demand power without education. The Children’s Storefront has been in the Harlem community for over 40 years. It has helped black and Latino children into some of the best high schools in the country. I would like to tell all the younger classes take advantage of the Storefront. Do as much extra work and read as many books as you can because it will help you in the long run.

today is Wednesday