Field Experience #4

Today I learned the importance of a holistic approach to education that focuses on the complete student.  The meeting for the boys was powerful.  The principle had men from Omega Psi Phi fraternity come and speak about manhood, scholarship, and resisting negative influences to overcome their social conditions.  Although this visit had less in-classroom observation, I learned a lot by witnessing the principle Mr. Aristide’s passion for the success of his students.  The most poignant part of his speech was that although you may be from a troubled neighborhood and witness negative role models daily, “it doesn’t have to be you.”  One of the speakers went to juvenile detention for a gun charge but because he had a mentor in high school who really supported and encouraged him, he went to FAU and is now completing medical school.  The meeting in the auditorium really spoke to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  These young boys bring their lives to school with them every day and they have to be encouraged, supported, and mentored in order to achieve. When I spoke to the 4^th block class about my college experience I stressed the fact that it doesn’t matter the path you take to acquire a degree, whether you go to junior college and then transfer, take a break from school and return, as long as you graduate.  Olivia shared that you may not know your major when you begin college or may change it during and that’s ok.