Interviews and Opinions on Education

The following questions were asked to Kari Bailey and Kassandra Padilla regarding their educational experiences.

1. Do you feel your community has helped you in school at any point in time?
Kari: "My parents would help me with homework if I really needed. Some of my teacher were available after school to help if I really needed it. I did not talk to my school counselor or with faculty on a regular basis about things other than school. My main support system was my friends. My aunt tutored me in the 7th and 8th grade and was a mentor to me. In high school she believed in me, came to my school events, and gave me advice relating stories from her life to mine."
Kassandra:"Yes and no because my school was located in ot the best community. It was a private school. I saw my surroundigs and decided I did not want to end up in a neighborhood like that. I wanted to graduate from a neighborhood like that. I want to come back to that neighborhood someday and help people so they can go to school and better themselves and their lives."

2. Who's your mentor? Is it someone in your community? What do you consider your community?
Kari: "My aunt is my mentor because she send me letter all the time in the mail. She helped me move into college and always gives me positive encouragement. In a way my frends are metnors too because if I ever need anything or just want to talk they are there. To me community is the people around me like those at Lake Forest College or those in my neighborhood."
Kassandra: "My parents are my mentors. I look at them and how hard they work, the problems of the household, dinner on the table, and the efforts they have made to put me through school. All of these things helped me realize life is not as easy as it sems on TV. I want to one day graduate and repay my parents for all they have done. I want to show them the appreciation they deserve to be shown."

3. What skills do you think allowed you to succeed in high school? Where did you develop those skills?
Kari: "I think having time management, a hard work ethic, and being organized helped me succeed in high school. Also, I was on sports teams and in extra-curricular activities which kept me going. I learned skills to succeed by going to school daily and getting involved in and out of the classroom."
Kassandra: "My family support, and those who have not been able to succeed before me. I develop those skills at home and throughout life and in my community. From the moment of birth you develop skills."

4. Do you feel you have a support system? If so who? If your family or school support system was not there do you still think you would be succeeding?
Kari: "Yes, I think my family and friends are my support system but when it comes to discussing certain problemes my friends are better to talk to then my parents. It really depends on the situation though. If I did not have any support system I think I would not be doing well in school. This is especially bad if you have no positive role models or no one to talk about what is bothering you with."
Kassandra: "Yes, my family. If I did not have my parents there I do not believe I would be where I am at now. They are my everything in life, my motivators, and guides into life."

5. Do you think being connected with your community is a good thing?
Kari: "Being connected with your community is definetly a good thing and I would not even question it. The more connected you are, the better you will be and feel. No one wants to be isolated or feel as if they do not belong."
Kassandra: "Yes and no it depends on how your community has been there for you and how it has impacted your life."

6. What would you have liked to have changed about your education?
Kari: "I do not know what I could have changed about it."
Kassandra: "I wish I would have taken it more seriously, not coast through but work harder at my studies."

7. What type of reform do you think is needed to make education better? Do you think more community involvement would assist in that?
Kari: "It depends on which level of education you are discussing. But an effort to make each student feel connected to their community should be made because more community involement and positive role models would help improve a students' ability to learn."
Kassandra: "We need teacher who have a passion for education, who have the desire to help students expand their minds. If you succeed in the community you came out of you should go back and help other that were or were not struggling like you so they too can make it out to a better life."