My Lala, My Life

Senior Thesis
Diana A. Martinez
AP Literature
Nicholas Steed
20 May 16

Senior Thesis

I believe schools can impact the life of students far beyond the aspect of academics. After
all, as stated in Handbooks of Adolescent Psychology written by Richard M. Lerner, From

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the time individuals first enter school until they complete their formal schooling, children and
adolescents spend more time in schools than in any other place outside their homes (Lerner
2004,140). Therefore, since the students spend the majority of their time at school, they interact
with different types of students. There are certain students who start off not caring about their
grades, and we have others who value their grades and are willing to stay in after school hours
to get their work done. Thus, the students who spend the majority of their time at school are
more than likely to be influenced by their surrounding teachers and staff members. Richard M.
Lerner, said Schools influence adolescents social, emotional and behavioral development
through organizational, social, and instructional processes ranging from those based in the
immediate, proximal relation between students and the tasks they are asked to perform to the role
that principals and the school boards play in setting school-level and district-level policies, which
in turn influence the social organization of the entire school community (Lerner 2004, 140). To
better explain Lerners quote its just saying that what we learn in school, isn't a coincidence, it
happens for a reason and whether we like it or not it affects every aspect of our life.I don't
necessarily mean academics wise, but students can feel impacted through their personal life, and
they can also feel like if they found a role model in school. In an article written by a student,
Students unknowingly demand that their
teachers impact them far beyond the amount of time they spend in their teachers'
classrooms. This might seem impossible given that most teachers only have a semester or a year
to influence their students' futures, but it is a reality of teaching (Jackson Barnett). This has
some logic, since teachers are the only role models some students might know. Students may
find that the teachers/staff can become like a parent in their life; a parent-like role model that can
help the student with academic and life guidance.

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The teacher-student relationship is a rare thing, but you find that in high-schools, students
and teachers get along. As Richard M. Lerner states, Teacher-student relationships are a key
component of classroom climate: High-quality teacher-student relationships facilitate academic
motivation, school engagement, academic success, self-esteem, and more general socioemotional
well-being (Lerner 2004,143). This quote explains that sometimes it may vary in between a
bad-good relationship, because certain students dont like being told what to do, even if it's their
teacher. I believe that teacher- student relationships are important when it comes to students.
After all, the way that you get along with your teacher, it increases your comfort level at school.
It also has a lot to do when trying to find someone you can trust at school, with personal
problems. When you trust someone at school, you don't have to wait to arrive home to let all
your problems out. You can simply go to that one person you trust at school. Theres also some
cases that you might have problems at home, and there isn't someone you trust at home. Which
brings us to someone you can vent to during school .
Life is full of different type of people, by that I mean different personalities, different
ways of thinking, and different perspectives on life. If all the people would be the same, the
world would be boring. Therefore, there are different types of people, and school is a place
where you interact with them. Everyone knows that in school there are different types of cliques.
It all has to do with the people you hang out with, and what they have to say about you. In an
article I read, You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Jim
Rohn (Celestine Chua). They also influence in many ways your behavior, and like it or not, they
have an effect on your grades. If you hang out with the group who could care less about their
grades, and are troublemakers, most likely learn some bad habits from them. In the Handbook
Of School Counseling written by Hardin L.K Coleman Christine Yeh,The most cited

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alternative explanation is the adolescent's selection of friends and membership into cliques who
exhibit certain behaviors(e.g students who smoke tend to pursue friendships with other
smokers) (Yeh 2011,624). This is clarifying that if you dont hang out with a group that will
bring the best out of you, things wont go too well for you. However, if you try and hang out
with people who try to uplift and help you succeed in life, you'll do great. After all just like
Hardin said,Friendships can also be supportive and mutually satisfying or imbalanced and
conflict-ridden though they often encompass both positive and negative traits. (Yeh 2011, 621)
This means that school can have an amazing impact on people because you'll find it surprising
how the people who didnt care, suddenly started doing their work and caring about school and
their future. School is a big part of your future, and the decisions you make during school have
impact towards your future.
Not many students have the privilege of having loving parents that are behind you and
making sure that you get your work done in school. In life you come across people who have
parents that don't care about their children, it's sad to say but most parents just have their children
for having them. They don't worry about having to provide them with food, shelter, education.
What would you expect from students who have parents like that?. They don't exactly have the
best role models as parents. It's proven that kids aspire to be like their parents. However, in
school, students who don't have the best role model, can find it at school. Addressing to the
article with Children Trends, While the primary purpose of school is the academic development
of students, its effects on adolescents are far broader, also encompassing their physical and
mental health, safety, civic engagement, and social development(Pilar Marin & Brett Brown).
Meaning that school focuses on every aspect of the students life, not only academics. Helping

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them gain trust with their staff members and teachers. This not only helps the student,but also the
teacher giving the teacher a chance to gain the students affection and trust over time.
Ultimately, I believe that school can impact a student's life beyond academics, after all
because what you learn in school has an impact on your future. Its also an amazing thing if
you're able to find a teacher who cares about you beyond academics. After all teachers aren't paid
to be your friend, they are paid to teach you. In the article Teachers Care it says, Great Teachers
care about their students. They want them to succeed and are committed to helping them achieve
their goals. Moreover, teachers care about their students happiness, well-being and life beyond
the classroom (Daniel Inouye). This adds on to how even though some classes might seem
insignificant, they are important because you might use it in your future. For example, math a
subject that no one likes, however it is used in business. Lets not forget having love for
literature is also important because you find a different world when you open a book. Lastly,
what you learn in school has an impact on the major you want to choose and it has an impact on
the career you wanting to pursue. The career you choose to pursue will also not only affect you
but others as well.

Work Cited
Barnett, Jackson. "Teachers: The Only Role Models Many Students Will Ever Know."
Education Week. N.p., 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 21 May 2016.
Website
Chua, Celeste. "You Are the Average of the 5 People You Spend the Most Time With."
You Are the Average of the 5 People You Spend the Most Time With. N.p., n.d.
Web. 21 May 2016.

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Website
Coleman, Hardin L. K., and Christine J. Yeh. Handbook of School Counseling. New
York: Taylor & Francis Group, 2011. Print.
Book
Lerner, Richard M., and Laurence D. Steinberg. Handbook of Adolescent Psychology.
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2004. Print.
Book
Marin, Pilar, and Brett Brown. "Research Brief: The School Environment and
Adolescent Well-Being: Beyond Academics: Publication No. 2008-26."
PsycEXTRA Dataset (n.d.): n. pag. Children Trends. Nov. 2008. Web.
Journal Article
"Teachers Care." Teachcom. Teach Make A Difference, 2009. Web. 21 May 2016.
Website