​

    As a senior of Sport & Medical Sciences Academy, we are all required of completing a capstone project for graduation. Capstone is not about the required credit, it’s all about the experience you gain. For my capstone, I knew I wanted to do something that would impact the younger generations. Coming from immigrant parents, starting school was hard and scary. Although all the challenges, I managed to work my hardest and overcame every struggle that came my way. I began brainstorming what I wanted to do for capstone and thought of Ms. Muriel’s, a kindergarten teacher at Naylor CCSU Leadership Academy in Hartford, Connecticut. Ms.Muriel was a teacher I connected with very closely when I attended Naylor, five years before. I worked with helping her and her class as a seventh and eighth grader. Working with her class, even at a young age, allowed me the experience of knowing I wanted to pursue my studies in early childhood education and later be a teacher just like Ms. Muriel. I immediately reached out and as usual she was all in with helping me and making anything possible. We met with the principal and I completed all paperwork that was required for volunteering students and was given the heads up that I can begin whenever I wanted.  Although I was very indecisive when starting capstone, I always knew this was the best option and it would give me the opportunity to make my decision certain for my future. 

    As someone who plans on becoming an elementary teacher, working with these kids has given me a head start to my future. I worked to help Ms.Muriel and her students as much as I could, from simply correcting homework folders and filling students' work to managing reading/math centers and teaching my own lessons. Ms. Muriel is a very welcoming teacher which is a big reason why I was able to  gain a very close friendship with her. She was open to hearing my ideas and gave me the best teaching advice. She will forever stay close to me and I’m glad I was able to work with her. 

    Throughout my capstone project, I was always on top of my things and made sure I stood on track. Although I didn’t start my capstone as soon I wanted, I didn’t let that set me back. Working with helping these young students impacted me a lot and I always want to do more. I worked very closely with those students who struggled with the english language and were below grade level. It reminded me of myself, when starting kindergarten it was hard for me since my parents didn’t understand the language and couldn’t help me much. So I could just imagine how hard it is for them now. I would work with these students one-on-one, providing as much help as I could. Allowing them to understand the work even a little more than they did, put a huge smile on their face. And that’s what mattered to me. Education was not just about learning, it’s about enjoying what you learn so that you can always remember and use it in the future.

    Working with Ms.Muriel’s class gave me an experience I will never forget. All the way  back in seventh grade, she would tell me she knows I’ll one day be a teacher myself. I never believed her and always thought it was just a faze, I’d soon get over. But years later I still wanted to work and help the younger generations. My capstone was able to teach me not only that I want to further my study in Early Childhood Education but to be patient and allowed to take a big step out of my comfort zone. It showed me how important education really is and that we should enforce that from the beginning so that all students know. I’m very happy that I was able to help these students as well as Ms.Muriel. And I’m happy I didn’t let my indecisive mindset get in the way of my capstone idea. I hope to one day be that teacher who someone wants to share the experience I shared with Ms.Muriel.