Jacqueline Navarrete

READ 3355
Dr. Donaldson
Jan. 27, 2016
The Lack of Foundation to Lay a Foundation: An Autobiography
I crave so much to be an English teacher, because everywhere I went, it was my English
teacher who added something of value to my life, my soul, my mind, and my esteem. Growing
up in a Mexican family like mine was a struggle academically. I did not have a good foundation
because my mom and dad were too busy to take care of me, and I was sent to my grandma in
Mexico, there I learned to talk and I began my academic career. Although I was born in Iowa, I
did not come back to the USA until the age of 7, which was my first time going to a school with
English speakers. But it was not too bad because in Fort Worth, Texas, the curriculum is spanish
1st-3rd grade. My first contact with the workforce came at the young age of eight. My mom and
dad would leave my sisters, age 13 and 11, and I in a loading truck, with about 200 watermelons
and we would sell them on the weekends while my mom and dad fished. I cant complain, I
loved selling watermelon. Later on, we moved to North Carolina, and that is where my first
experience not knowing how to read or write really hit me. I was in a classroom and I Was the
only hispanic, probably in all the school, or so it seemed to me. My teacher worked so avidly
with me, and I was put in a special ESL program and thus began my passion with the English
language. I moved a lot in my childhood. After North Carolina, I moved to South Carolina in 3rd
grade. I started in the ESL program there, but lasted only two months because we then moved to
Tennessee. Thankfully, in Tennessee, they saw the progress Id made and I never had to take
another ESL class again.

My potential in English did not come in until 6th grade in Illinois. My Reading and ELA
classes were separated. I was a horrible student in Reading because, honestly, I did not like my
teacher, and this was at the time that time-out chairs were still used in classrooms, basically, that
chair became my assigned seat. I would say this with more guilt, but it is because of my horrible
behavior that my ELA teacher made me a priority. See, I was so well behaved in her class and
she saw so much potential. Once she heard about what was happening in my Reading class, she
pulled me aside with my Reading teacher and said I could come to her classroom during my
Reading period and she promised my teacher I would have my work done. She then confided in
me the potential she saw. Then I began to see the potential I had. Mrs. Graham was so shocked
that I had a 100% in her ELA class, because of my first language, and she would use me as an
example to the students who would not do their homework and I began to believe in myself.
After that, all of my English teachers loved me because I was a star student.
In high school, the struggles of being a kid who worked at home and had little parental
supervision took a toll on my behavior and I would act up and skip class, until I made the move
from Rantoul, Illinois to Fort Worth, Texas (again). Here is where the falling action and
resolution took place. This is the real reason I want to become an English teacher. At North Side
High School, which has a 99% Hispanic population, I walked in, done with rebellious Jackie and
ready to mold a new Jackie. I walked into Ms. Halls English II classroom. Everyone was
practicing for the TAKS test, which at the time I knew nothing of, she was struggling to get
everyone to write a paragraph, and she was struggling, big time. I came to her class, introduced
myself and she told me the assignment, which was to write a narrative for TAKS practice. Before
she gave me more instructions, I asked, Do you want me to do a regular five paragraph essay

with a standard thesis and conclusion? She was so blown away, she just said yes, and began to
foster what she saw in me. It is because of her that I met my mentor Mrs. Monita Sharpe.
Mrs. Sharpe is the reason I am here. I met her on my path to change my life, as my
Student Council Sponsor. At the time of my involvement with student council, Mrs. Sharpe
taught English I and AP Language and Composition. The first year I met her I was a Junior, and
became the STUCO treasure, my Senior year, I became President of STUCO. And thanks to Ms.
Halls references, I was allowed into the AP program for all of my classes. So my senior year, I
took Mrs. Sharpes class. Because I was Student Council President, I had the ability to miss a lot
of my classes. during that time, I was always in Mrs. Sharpes room, observing her classroom
management and routine. I became so familiar with it that on occasions, I would teach her class,
with her supervision. Later in the year, when she had a substitute, she would ask my teachers to
allow me to help her for specific classes who had behavioral issues, and the students would listen
and respect me. The biggest proof of my abilities and personal destiny came when I would get in
front of my own AP Language and Composition classroom and direct the substitute in what to do
and tell my fellow classmates what is expected of them, and they, not once, doubted my ability.
Those two years under Mrs. Sharpes wing molded my teaching style and helped me discover my
personal destiny.