Building Our Potential by Pooja

Building Our Potential by Pooja - July 2020 Scholarship Essay

Normally when students hear the word ‘classroom’, they think of worn-out wooden desks, mundane roll calls, and dreaded pop-quizzes all crammed into the five-day week. But with this year's COVID-19 pandemic, students find themselves in an unprecedented situation. This spring, millions of students were ripped out of their schools and placed in front of their computers for online-learning. As the thought of reopening our country grows, it's time for all of us- students, teachers, and administrators alike- to step back and evaluate what we really want from our education system. What learning environment do we want to return to? And how will we accomplish it? For me it's simple, my “dream classroom” consists of guest speakers and cutting-edge technology.

Guest speakers are the hidden gem of our school system. In my dream classroom, each course would use a plethora of guest speakers to further explain the material. This visitor would be someone who has pursued advanced study in the topic/subject. For example, Lab Researchers visit science classes while Journalists lecture English classes. These professionals would expand topics the teacher already covered in class. Aside from demonstrating real-world application of classroom topics, guest speakers can offer advice to those that want to pursue a career in that subject. Teachers can only provide so much knowledge on the wide array of lessons they teach. By bringing in guest speakers, they relieve our far-stretched teachers and present academic content in a practical way for students. This idea came to me because I am a visual learner. In order for me to better process what I learn, I try to find ways it relates to my life or my goals. Luckily, I have the curiosity to do extra-research, but many students surrender to their confusion and settle for a superficial understanding of the content. It's also important to highlight that wide-spread implementation of guest-speakers in the classroom provides networking opportunities for students to excel. They can foster real relationships with the speakers that could open doors along the road, like internship and employment opportunities. I believe the purpose of a classroom is to cultivate potential and vision. Guest speakers show what happens when that vision becomes reality.

The next aspect of my dream school is cutting-edge technology and digitization of all classroom materials. For example, Laptops instead of textbooks and notebooks. I realize for some this may not be a fantasy, but I have gone to lower-income public schools my whole life. Their version of ‘up-to-date technology’ was released in 2009. In my dream classroom, the bulky and backbreaking backpacks would be obsolete. I would have one tablet/ laptop which would encompass a variety of school-adapted applications: Touch-screen and stylus for handwritten notes, camera to take pictures of the board, unlimited storage for word-processed papers, chatroom for students to communicate and .pdf versions of all my textbooks. This part of my dream school was partially inspired by virtual-learning. I realized how possibilities could expand through the click of a button. I was able to collaborate with peers on research papers and hold all my assignments in one place. However, I also saw how students who did not possess technology at home were limited in their participation and even had their grades suffer. This is why the school would issue these devices out to all students. (Thus any income-discrepancies between peers will not be exposed by the model of their laptop). Creating this sense of homogeneity and equality on campus sets students up for success but erasing any feelings of inferiority based on your background. Everyone starts on equal footing with no special advantages given only to those who can afford it. In my ideal school technology is a stepping stone to success, not an obstacle.
In all, my dream classroom consists of knowledgeable guest speakers and the latest technology. Setting kids, like myself, up for long term success is the motivation for this vision. In school I want to have the tools for success and the opportunity to meet role models who will show me the way. Investing in Education systems sets the foundation for lasting achievement. How we treat our students symbolizes how we treat our citizens. If we do not guarantee quality education for the youth, how will we guarantee long term prosperity for the nation? They say “Children are the future”, but the classroom is where that future starts.