Hw 40: Interviews on School

My fortune cookie for the day: Faithless is he who quits when the road darkens.
Part A
Family Interview:
Robert Proto (54)- A high school and college graduate with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Baruch. He's lived in New York's LES all his life, attended a Parochial private High School, but transferred to public school for his in his sophomore year because he didn't like strict atmosphere of private school and he felt out of place and too immature there. He was apprehensive to go to public school at first because it had a reputation of being dangerous in those days, but at the time he was glad he transferred because it was easier.
Q: Do you regret transferring?
"In a lot of ways I regret it now because I feel like a quitter, I think I would have amounted out to more if I stuck it out and rose to the challenge."
Q: What do you think about your kids going to public school?
"The public School system today is considered safer, and since its not cheap to go to private school, I found a good public high schools for my daughters. I feel guilty some days for not giving them the very best, considering it may have been easier for them to get into the colleges they want if they came from a well known school."
Q: What did you want to get out of the education you pursued?
"One of the things I planned when I went to public HS was to take business courses, resorting to that because I didn't know what else to do with my life. I thought I'd be good at book keeping, the first step to accounting. I went to Baruch with intentions of studying to become an accountant. I got my first accounting course the second semester of my second year and got an A. When I got to my third year, I took the next step where my teacher said 'this is the class where we separate the men from the boys' and unfortunately I didn't do well. So the second term of my third year, instead of dropping accounting, I took the next course hoping I would improve; but I didn't. After I dropped accounting, I decided to pursue a field of computers. In my first semester of my 4Th year, but I didn't do very well but tried to continue in my second semester of my 4Th year. After the first or second week I felt lost, so I figure the best thing to do was drop out of college and just look for a job since I was making it at Baruch."
Q: How did it feel to be a college drop out?
"I felt very depressed and unsure of myself for dropping out, even though I felt out of place and lost being there. I was really concerned about how my mother would feel about me dropping out, and that made me hesitant. What finally put me at ease was a conversation with my younger brother.He told me he had talked to her about it, and that she had she said she knew I gave it a lot of thought and understood my decision.That gave me more courage to not be apprehensive about my instincts and just do what felt right."

One day Bob officially dropped out, and started looking for a job. His father made arrangements for interviews, and got hired as a senior clerk; a low level entry position in NYC health and Hospitals co.
"And that's where I met my wife who convinced me to get my bachelors because she said she wouldn't date anyone without a college degree. So a year after I left Baruch, I went back at night and finished me remaining courses. but I didn't attend my ceremony because I was embarrassed. I'm grateful to my wife for influencing me to go back."

Q- Would you ever go back to school?
"No. I don't have the motivation to put in the effort to go back to school to get another degree. I realize now how valuable education is, and I regret I never looked at it as a beneficial tool . It was only a burden and an unhappy experience. I'm sure If I had the chance to start over, I'd approach it more maturely. But I don't feel I want to pursue another degree because its no longer important or crucial for me in this time in my life. My wife always values education and rises to the challenge of education. I unfortunately don't rise to the challenge.
I always look at school as a negative experience in my life. I guess when I was a little child, I didn't want to be there and every year prior I felt upset because I wasn't very smart. I wasn't an ambitious individual and always wanted the easy way of life, not the challenge."

Q: What do you tell your kids about education, in respect to your experience?
I always wanted my wife to be the biggest influence on my kids to help them realize how crucial a good education is in life. Knowledge is power, and today I realize how true that is. Its power that can't be taken away from you. I hope that when my kids are in college, they realize how important it is to accomplish their goals. They talk about the "college experience" but I think that will only bring temporary happiness. I want my daughters to learn from my mistakes, and realize that its important to be the best person you can me . Sometimes its not always the person you wanted to become, but if you try to achieve what you want you can feel satisfied that you gave it your best. The only thing you should feel bad about in life is if you wanted something but didn't put in all the effort and regret it. But if you did put in your all, you would always know you gave tried. It doesn't mean your not successful, it just may mean that wasn't the right path for you and that you should look elsewhere."
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Jessica Proto (17)
Q:What has your experience with school been like?
Good, when I was in elementary school. I didn't have o do much, and life was easier. When I switched to a private Jewish reformed school in 4th grade, it was ok. The commuting was annoying but I liked being on the basketball team and being a part of something. Then I went to SOF for two years, which was ok at first but then got bad so I just stopped going. Then my parents forced me into a special private school called Robert Luis Stevenson. It was ok, I liked it but after a year I stopped going because it got stupid. Then my parents sent me away to boarding school which I hated at first but eventually got to liking because they has horse back riding and snow boarding and I made some friends. But these days I hate it because they treat people unfairly and look down on their students as delinquents and problem children.

Q:Whats your overall view of School?
"I don't really like school that much, I don't do homework or study for tests. Its stressful, I prefer doing projects because your given more time to do them then an assignment due the next day.
"My parents are influencing me to get my GED, but I'm not even sure if thats what I want. They expect me to be something I'm not. I don't always care about living up to their standards because I have my own. When I wanted to get my permit I got one...
I do want to go to college, but one my own terms and on my own time.
I want to be a social and child care worker when I grow up, so that I can help troubled people the way my social worker looks out for me."

Q: Whats the purpose of school?
To get an education, to learn new things in life. Its important to help you go somewhere i life, and without it you'll go nowhere.
Q:What have you leaned about yourself thanks to school?
Thanks to school, I've learned that I can be a fuck up. But that its important to do well and recognize when you need to make a change.
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Gail Proto (50) A Newtown High School and Baruch college graduate with a BBA in marketing and an MBA in business administration, she has worked for NYC Health and Hospitals Co for 32 years. Gail wasan only child born and raised in Jackson Hights Queens and aspired to be a clown as a child because she wanted to make people laugh.
Q: What is your greatest memory from High School?
"I was really good in this drama class, I surprised myself for having a little bit of talent. I had some wonderful friendships and it was fun getting to date a little bit. I remember being on the debate team and paper which was cool. It was an overall good experience, but I remember hating myself for not being cool enough by my own standards. I didn't find myself attractive until I was 18, so before then I was insecure especially due to my stutter."

Q: How was college?
"It was wonderful because I was away from home, making friends and was a growth experience. But it was helpful in a way that I was at a sleep away school for my first two years at Hofstra and then was forced to come home due to family problems where I then transfered to city school at Baruch. I was devistated having to leave, but then I realiozed how fun working was and even night school. People were much more interesting because they were actually in the business world. I had done book keeping work during the summers, so my first job wasn't so bad. My parents couldn't afford to send me away anymore, but making my own money felt so good that I didn't mind coming home so much."
Q: What are the motiviations of school?
"Its a wonderful educational and socializing experience. Theres emotional growith, there's intelectual growth and you learn to be part of a community. It teaches you how to deal with different tyoes of people. Whaen your in the working enviornemtn you have to deal with all different types of personalities, some being your bosses. I just love school. I love to grow and learn. I love it how when I learn one thing, all through out the day whovever I talk to, I can relate back to that thing. I find leanring fun, and RESEARCH is the most fun."
Q: Would you want to go back to school?
"I'm in school now! I'm taking a certificate program in Public Policy at the Murphy School of Professional Studies whick is a part of CUNY. Its exciting being back in school; enlightening because I feel like i'm growing again (at my age). And I'm planning on persuing a PHD next in... well i'm not sure yet, maybe public policy."
Q: What do you hope your kids will get out of School?
"I want them to get a good education. I hope they find a passion for something other then boys."

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Ahivah Ellner (57)- Went to Hunter College for nursing.
Q: When do you know you wanted to be a nurse?
"When I was 8 years old I was watching dr. Kildare, a show on T.V. and ever since I wanted to be a nurse."
Q: What was high school like for you?
"My parents moved from Manhatten to West chester which was a tramatic period in my life, I was a senior in High School. Initially, I didn't adjust well. But I eventually made friends with people who has similiar backgrounds as myself. I moved to a place of middle class to a place of higher class and could only relate to those more like myself. The students there lived in gated communities, the girls wore cahsmere sweaters. They all drove cars, and I came from the city to the subuors. I realized then that I was a true a city girl at heart, so I went to hunter colege in the city because it had a very good nursing program.
Q: What to you is the purpose of school?
I think basically what school does is give u a very basic foundation and requirements to get a degree. There aren't as many trade classes as there are profession classes. Trade classes are more done with your hands, but in this day and age its all about working at an office. White collar has better status then those who work with their hands and are blue collar. You don't need as much book knowledge as you may need for a business. But there plenty of people who are wildly successful who never went to college, like Bill gates.

Q: Would you ever go back to school?
"I would absolutely want to go back to school. I never went for my masters because getting my bachelors was so difficult. I regret it now, and therefore I will be looking into continuing education; even at my age. I have no ideas in what yet, perhaps for teaching purposes."


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Rebeca Vallejo (34)- Professional organizer/ musician (singer)
Q: What was School like in Spain?
"I was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. It was very different and the school system was really tough in Spain. You had so much to study and you had on entire year after high school and one year preparation for college entry exam According to the score on you exam, you are limited in choosing you field of study. In my own ranking I has an average score, I was really good in subjects and horrible in others. In the things I liked I put a lot of emphasis, and for the others I didn't care. But I wasn't required to take it because i was planning on going to college in Great Britain."
Q: What was the transition to college in another Country like?
"It was craziness to adapt at 19 to a different school system in a new country with a different language. Being on your own for the first time was tough, even by choice. Being away from your parents.
I went back to Spain for my masters when I was 22, for year and a half until I came to America. I wanted to pursue my dream of being a jazz singer, because where jazz was born. I worked and started my music career, started writing music and recorded my first album. About 5 years into moving here, I decided to go to city college for jazz studies."
Q: What was it like going back to school?
It was very very weird going back to school. There was a large variety of ages in my jazz program, all with the same goals as me. Sometimes int was strange learning in a classroom with people 10 years younger then me. It was a shocker, and I struggled a lot because I had to work a pay for school myself before I got a student loan. This was a very advanced program, so i had to catch up. It was very challenging.
But thank god I graduated with my degree, but my degree doesn't apply with anything I do now.

I have three degrees today, and thanks to my composition skills being stronger I got more confidence in my position, but now I am a professional organizer and I didn't really need any school for that.

It was an accident becoming an organizer. I realized I really liked space organizing,I have a mind for it. I started doing little jobs then by luck I was flipping through a magazine that spoke of space organizer. National Association of Professional Organizers, and it all kind of snowballed from there. That's also had its ups and downs, it was a bit slow in the beginning and hard in this economy.
My organizing profession kind of compliments my job as a Singer."
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Part B
People who are currently still in school greatly varry in answers to my questions then those who are done. The adults who I interviewed also varried in who was planning on going for another degree and the one who had no intentions on going back.
I got some really interesting insights, especially from my pops. He really kind of spooked me into beleiving that a life without the passion to learn is a life not worth living. Education is really the key to success, and although some may say ignorance is bliss, I've learning from my dad that knowledge has the power to make you happy. But having the patience and motivation to learn is hard work when your a teenager. Kids in American don't always appreciate what they've got unless their parents remind them of how lucky they got it. My parents had pretty comfortable lives themselves, so they have no need to lecture me on appreciation. But when I think of kids in 3rd world countries who are not so well off, I begin to feel selfish for not taking full advantage of the opportunities I am given so easily.
Another thing my dad brought up that no one else had was not feeling right for school. He had failed at the career he originally sought out and was ashamed for it. But he was more embarrassed with what his family, particularly his mother would think of him. I think in our society, school is considered so crucial for a fulfilling life that those who don't go are looked down upon, especially those who give up half way through. In my fathers case, he was just shy of graduating before he dropped out, something you rarely hear. But I see him as being brave, doing what he thought was right for him rather then right for fitting the mold of a twenty-something while blood American boy.

Its so imperative for students to be honest with themselves about what hey want and what their capable of so that they don't waste time pursuing a life they just THINK they want.
My dads response really sparked a lot of thought like that, which is why I liked his interview the best!

It seemed that for the younger subject (my older sis), she was more optimistic about the future. I mean Jessica and I have out whole lives ahead of us with an entire world to see and anything they can dream at their finger tips. Yet, according to the older prospects, all they need to succeed is to be driven and hard working.
Is it possible that having dreams just isn't enough to put it into action? I always thought having a goal at all was a huge first step, but when do we really learn the skills to make out dreams into a reality?
Are we given all the tools in High School to get into the right college that will help us the get the best job we can?

I'm beginning to believe its not always so easy, and even if your a braniac in school it doesn't necessarily mean your going to excel at what ever you do. Don't get m wrong, I'm sure it helps. But there are a lot of major components that add up to achievements. And this generation of teenagers usually learn this too late in the game.

I can't get out of my mind what Ben from East High said a couple weeks ago on the topic of the purpose of school:
"School is means to help students make choices and figure out how to put those choices in effect for the future." - Or something along those lines.
This got me thinking about the meaning of life and our unit of cool and all that fun stuff. We are sent out into society, given a system to follow then expected to know what to do once we hit the age or 22 and have already graduated college. I've been pampered, pressed and processed by my parents, teachers and bosses all to be molded into a good citizen of the united states. But has School really made me into the best person I can be?

Is it really all on us to make a good life for ourselvles, or should we hold some of these superiors responsible? And how can any of us ever know if the choices we're making are right? Isn't it all just trial and error? Then shouldn't we have more trials?


For the past hour, I haven't only been thinking about this institution of school but also how religious schools come into play. For instance sunday school, hebrew school, greek school? They are all additional suppliers of knowledge except its for a specific network of people belonging to that religion. I myself had to go to hebrew school from the age of 6 up until was 13. I couldn't have been more thrilled when I didn't have to go anymore. To me, those hebrew classes were agony. I didn't give a rats ass what the history of the Torah was. I realize now that all I was taught was valuable information about my culture, but at the time I was just bored out of my mind and counting down the minutes until I could be safe in my own household again.

When I look back, I wonder why my mother made me go all those years. I didn't get why she wanted me to be jewish so badly. She married me father and he wasn't jewish. Heck he isn't even religious at all. So why was she forcing traditions I loathed and ceremonies I didn't follow down my throat?
She said she wanted me to be a part of something bigger then myself, a way of having a closer relationship to god. But I didn't even know if I beleived in the guy, so it didn't really make a difference making an appearance at the synogouge every monday and wednesday. Evenetually I relaized it was all leading up to the big sacred honor; my batmitzvah.

According to wikipedia, a batmitzvah: "One of the most important events to take place during Jewish Education (LOL) is the celebration of the Bar or Batmitzvah... According to jewish law, a boy enters a adulthood at the age of 13, while a girl enters adulthood at the age of 12. The bar or bat mitzvah celebrates this coming of age and significes ones passage into adulthood."
Huh, I wonder how they landed on those ages. Because from person expereicne, my most immature ages probably ranged from 11 through 15.

My whole life I've had this aspect that religious is important shoved down my throat. I feel kind of cheated not because I was never really given an option of what to beleive. I was born into a family that wanted my to beleive one thing, and for a while I was convinced thats what I actually beleived. But when I realize I could have just as easily been born the daughter of a muslim women, I begin to think that religion is just a form a brainwashing so that there are more followers to that specific movement of beliefe.
I've not saying the whole institution of religion is full of crap, but perhaps more of it is mythology rather then FACT.

I myself beleive in the study of science. If there is evidence to prove it, then I'll beleive it. But at times you have to realize that media can be just as brainwashing as religion, along with every other source of informatiomn.

We never know if what we're being told is the truth. All we can do is choose to listen or not. I'm beginning to wonder if we're all just better off being taught by our parents.

I liked that one of my interviews was with a women from another country. Hearing about how different the school system is there helped me to realize that different cultures really have varying ways of doing things. The process of getting into college and finding a major in America is completely different then the process in Spain. I was blown away that Rebecca had the courage to go to another country for college, when I can hardly bare the thought of going to a school more then a few hours away from home.
I wonder if we're too babied in school, and if it may a better option to get as far away from out parents as possible in order to have the true feeling of independence.

Ahuvah Ellner braught up a good point about how Billgates got success without a college degree. Although many advisors and teachers recomend continuing education beyond high school, there are so many other neglected options that I feel are looked over because they are not of as high of a status as a while collar job.
Why is trade school not as talked about as graduate school and why aren't we taught more hands on courses?

More and more I've come to the conclusion that enviornment really shapes who you are. If you are born in the city, chances are you are more likely to me exposed to drugs sex and rock & roll far sooner then a kid in the suborbs too busy looking at cars and getting their learners permit. The values of a community greatly influences the institutions amung it, including school.

So how are we to really know what we really want or believe unless we experience all different aspects?
Travel across America, talk to a different person in a different town in a different state all across the country. Get the real story and they real opinions. School is just a stepping stone between growing up and becoming the person your destined to me.

School may give us a push, but its us that chooses the direction we take.

Sometimes I wish I had gone to a bigger High School in an area in the city farther from my house. But then again, I wouldn't be the girl I am today had I not gone to SOF.
I suppose I don't regret my mistakes, I only wish I had made them sooner.