Hernandez 1

Bryan Hernandez
ENG 100
Professor Hanvey
5 Oct 2014
MY EDUCATIONAL PATH
I have seen pain and setbacks. It has taught me valuable lessons and has helped me
overcome obstacles. Yet my educational path keeps growing. As each day passes I keep learning
and keep increasing my knowledge. I am, Bryan Hernandez. Albeit, the way my life was headed
to at a young age seemed like a rewritten script. But I knew I would grow mentally/educationally
and overcome harsh circumstances. And still, that path will keep growing. And thats literacy to
me--to be able to understand and improve.
My future during my middle school years and a portion of my high school year, then,
spelled out disaster waiting to happen. Just like the many students in Freedom Writers, I too
lived in a dangerous area. I didnt join a gang, nor did I shoot anyone or held a gun for that
matter. Although, at such a young I had developed bad habits.
Living in Watts will be a time Ill always remember. A place filled with violence, racial
tension, gangs, and drugs. I was surely to fall into one of those categories. My years in Watts I
would face many obstacles, setbacks, and challenges. It was difficult at times to stay strong.
Although I was just a teen, I had lots of emotions running through me. Yet my friends always
saw me as the chilliest and happiest guy at school. At home I was the same. I didnt cause any
trouble. The only things that occurred at home were the fighting between my dad and my big
brother. My brother was something else. I remember one day he came home beaten up. They had

jumped my brother. My dad didnt even bother to ask what had happened to him. All my dad
said was, si sigues asi vas a llegar a la carcel.
In this area there were constant bombardments of shootings, racial clashes, and robberies.
In many cases one would get jumped or assaulted by gang members. My dad was a victim of
assaults. My brother would always get in fights with other African American gang members. My
friends would get jumped and/or fight other kids their age. Many Latino families were victims in
this area were victims of racial violence. Moreover, I remember the shootings that occurred
between races or between gangs. It didnt matter the time or day but one was always hearing
gunshots. There was a point where they were shooting back and forth for a whole week in the
street I lived in. The worst drive by that occurred happened during the day. Everyone was outside
enjoying the day and what not. All of a sudden a gang member yelled, Theyre coming! That
meant either the cops were on the way or something bad was going to happen. Right there and
then a drive-by occurred. It all happened so fast. When they came my friend had rushed to get
his little nephew (who had crossed the street) while the shooters were about 10 feet away from
his nephew. He saved him and then in a flash everyone ducked down.
I had lived in Watts for about 9 years until we moved to Boyle Heights. I attended
Lincoln High School. At first, I wanted to follow the same path my middle school friends had
followed to their freshman year. Although, something in me wanted to be different. My mind no
longer wanted to be in the same fixed mindset. I wanted to go beyond my mindset and grow my
knowledge (Dweck). In the next two years I would see a significant growth. I also would see
literacy build upon me in great amounts.
I give a big thanks to my 9 & 10 grade teacher, Ms. Blewitt. I was having a hard time
wanting to grow as an individual. She took her time teaching her class. Its embarrassing to say,

but my grammar and handwriting were horrible! Id spell with one letter capitalized, one letter
lower cased, and I dont know why. My teacher always had grammar lessons and of course she
helped me. One day, she assigned the whole class a book. I forgot the name of it, but I know
from that point I started to like reading. In those two years with Ms. Blewitt I had read: Of Mice
and Men, Fast Food Nation, Always Running, and Hip Hop High School. She also had free
writes every class session, for about 10 minutes. Just like the Freedom Writer students, I was
spilling out anything into these free writes. Since I was a big fan of hip hop and lyrics, I then
started to write my own lyrics in very own rhyme book.
Overall, she changed me, as it did to one student in Ms. Gruwells class. The diary entry
in Freedom Writers said:
I have learned so much my freshman year, and one important lesson Ive learned is that people
do change, because I did (Freedom Writers Diary 23).
I couldnt agree more! It was all because of Ms. Blewitts awareness to me and her enthusiasm
into her job. Plus, she was a bit crazy like Ms. Gruwell. What mattered most was that my literacy
path was evolving. The next two years (my junior and senior year) I had completely transfused to
one mindset to another. Seeing this path succeed reminds me of Joan Didions article where she
spoke of always remembering who you once were. Her article says:
I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we
find them attractive company or not (On Keeping a Notebook).
The major significance these sentences have is something to reflect upon because it
shows what one has gone through. It seems clich to say, but it all happens for a reason. Soon
enough I was graduating! That moment when I received my diploma I took a quick look at the

people around me. I looked at my diploma and saw that I had overcome a difficult path. My
educational path had leveled up!
Now here I am, a college student. Although Im not in a Cal state or UC, I dont mind.
Its just another challenge Ill face for my educational path. Here at PCC I am wanting and
willing to learn new skills. I am looking forward to finding new ways to make my life better and
of course extend my literacy. An educational path never ends. The mind always needs literacy; it
also needs obstacles and challenges. Just how Luis Rodriguez told his son in his novel:
You have worth outside of a job, outside the jacket imposed on you since birth. Draw on your
expressive powers (Always Running).
I know there will be more rough patches along the way. I know itll take patience and lots of
self-motivation. Though, Ill keep pushing and moving forward, until I master this path of mine.

WORK CITED
Didion, Joan. On Keeping a Notebook. 1990. Canvas.

Dweck, Carol. The Peril and Promises of Praise. 2007. Canvas.

Gruwell, Erin. The Freedom Writers. The Freedom Writers Diary. New York: Broadway Books,

2009. Print.

Rodriguez, J. Luis. La Vida Loca: Gang Days In L.A. Always Running. New York: A

Touchstone Book, 1993. Print.