Educational Autobiography February 17, 2015 Michael D Barela

I look at my education from two vantage points. The first is formal as dictated by the

American institution of public education. The second is informal, which is pretty much

everything else outside of the classroom. I divide it into these two categories because I see the

institution as those values that were set up without my input. They are regulations that are

imposed by a cold, broken, lifeless, government. While learning that happens outside of those

restrictive confines is neither assessed solely by a letter grade nor limited by time. My want to

learn, although not always evident, is driven by my faith and a desire to help others. When it

comes to my education, I am conflicted between my love for learning and my bitterness at how

the educational system has mis-educated that learning.

One of the first experiences that I had with my education was in the autumn of 1977, my

first day of kindergarten. My mom and I were standing in line with the rest of the children

accompanied by their moms getting registered to admit us into class. I remember holding my

mom’s hand. And that is when she asked me if I wanted to go by Michael Vise or Michael

Barela. My reply was as genuine as could be for a boy of five years, “Mommy, aren’t I a Vise?”

That reply prompted my mother to enroll me as Michael Vise. The name that happened to be my

step-father’s last name; A name that was not on my birth certificate. The lessons learned from

the experience are still being revealed. The first such revelation was that my mom would not be

taking an active participatory role in my education. Some might view this as a progressive

parenting. The problem, however, is that my mom had not prepared me to be making such life

changing decisions at such an early age. Thus, I was the only one who had to face the

1
Educational Autobiography February 17, 2015 Michael D Barela

consequences of that decision years later. This experience provides a template for what would

come to follow.

My mom was not my only parent to make an imprint on my education. My dad

contributed as well with some ill-fated advice. It stemmed from his religious beliefs as a

Jehovah’s Witness. Many people associate Jehovah’s Witnesses as a cult who knocks on your

door to discuss religion; I have seen it portrayed as a punchline enough times. What is important

to know is that they have been proclaiming Armageddon and the end of the world to be

imminent. And so my father, based on that proclamation, gave this advice, “Why bother with

college? That would be like rearranging the deck chairs of the Titanic, while it was sinking.” I

knew that I would never be able to rely upon him for support for a higher education.

Living solely with my mom, I attended public schools all the way through the 80’s in

Farmington, New Mexico. They would best be described as deriving from the classic liberal

mold. Beyond that, I would be hard pressed to recall other philosophical views. My formal

education was not that important to me; my parent’s lack of consequence and support only

reinforced that. Thus, my time in the classroom is almost a hazy blur. A few takeaways that I do

recall are very rarely doing homework, yet almost always doing really well on tests. If a class

component required out of class homework, I did poorly. If homework was done in class, I often

excelled. Homework was often the determining factor. Because, from the time I was thirteen, I

always had a job in order to help pay the utilities; Often working over forty hours a week,

homework took a backseat on the priority list. Thus, I knew early on that the military was going

2
Educational Autobiography February 17, 2015 Michael D Barela

to be about the only option for me to leave Farmington. I enlisted in the delayed entry program at

seventeen.

My next education came by way of the United States Navy. I scored high enough on the

military entrance exam that they convinced to take the nuclear field test. I had been enticed by

the prospect of making more money. A month after graduating, I shipped off to become a nuclear

propulsion specialist. When I arrived at basic training, I had been naively misled about the award

amount I was going to receive for college. I was eligible for the Navy college fund, but my

recruiter had not assigned it to my contract.

To further add insult to injury, nearly upon graduating from the Naval Nuclear Power

School, I was dismissed from the program on a technicality. Because, I had struggled my first

month of Nuclear Field “A” School, I was put on a probation. I was required to visit with my

instructors three times every week. After graduating “A” School and with my scores much

improved, the requirement became less enforced by my next set of instructors at NNPS. But,

because it was technically still on the books, when I had a disagreement with a Naval Officer, it

was easy to say I was guilty of not doing my duty. That was a brutal lesson about questioning

authority. I also learned firsthand why the Navy’s attrition rate was so high in the nuclear field. I

even remember one such student getting dismissed solely because he had gotten a sunburn. Thus,

when I arrived at my first command, the U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60), it came as little surprise that

nearly two-thirds of my division were ‘ex-Nuc’s,’ as we were affectionately known. My record

tarnished and no desire to make the Navy a career, I chose to spend the final four years of my

enlistment, doing enough to be honorably discharged.

3
Educational Autobiography February 17, 2015 Michael D Barela

The next chapter of my education has become a nearly twenty year on again- off again

relationship with college. After being honorably discharged, I stayed in San Diego to attend

Grossmont Community College. Where over the next two years, as a constant member of the

Dean’s List, I graduated with an Associate’s Degree complete with honors. It was during this

time that I first began working in an education capacity. To supplement my limited G.I. Bill, I

worked as a college student worker. First, at the middle school level than at the high school level.

For a year at each level. This is where I first encountered cultural barriers impeding education.

Bright children flawed only because English was not their primary language: Russian, Spanish,

Vietnamese, etc. This is where the seed of becoming a teacher first germinated.

I chose to transfer to the University of New Mexico rather than the University of

California, San Diego because I naively thought it would cost less. I took off a year to

re-establish residency. When I applied to UNM, none of my credits transferred from California. I

was dumbfounded. I had to decide, go back to California and re-establish residency or basically

start all over. I chose to start over at Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute. I figured that I

wouldn’t have to take the prerequisite classes this time around. I completed the courses to

receive my second associate’s degree. When I submitted my graduation paperwork, I had a

counselor ask why I had not challenged my credits from Grossmont. I did not know how to

reply.

I had finally made it to UNM. But, because my G.I. Bill was long since depleted, I had

already been working full time for over a year. My course load was becoming overwhelming. I

was getting burned out. I began to question the purpose; I even spoke to a therapist. I barely

managed to struggle through that semester. The next semester things got worse. I was still

4
Educational Autobiography February 17, 2015 Michael D Barela

struggling, trying to balance work and school. Then right before spring break, several things

happened, almost at once. My Grandpa and my cousin Stacy passed away within days of each

other. And if that was not enough, my sister Elizabeth was diagnosed with cancer. I spent spring

break in the hospital. I did not return to my classes.

For the next ten years, my education was minimal. I ended up getting my cdl

(commercial driver’s license) and driving trucks. The few lessons that I did learn, still affect me.

One such lesson is that my cdl only cost me six hundred twenty-five dollars. My formal

education was still costing me money. That cost benefit analysis raised the question of validity.

But, when the economy turned, I was laid off. I reflected on my choices. I could still be a

truck driver. But, I desired to have a purposeful and meaningful career.

I wanted to be a teacher.

Because I was unemployed, I had time, I discovered hiking. I had traveled throughout my

adult life, but it was mostly superficial. I saw amazing sights, but I had not really discovered

them. That all changed when I hiked into Havasupai; I was changed. This further reinforced the

idea of becoming a teacher.

5
Educational Autobiography February 17, 2015 Michael D Barela

So, when I thought about what I would do to support my college costs, I thought of

becoming a trail guide. Which prompted me to pursue my wilderness first responder certificate. I

think I have mentioned this before but if not let me point out again that I have been naïve about

college. After all I was the first person in my family to attend. So, I kind of feel like Thomas

Edison in finding numerous ways to not reach the goal. My point is that I was shocked to find

out that I was eligible for Pell Grants. I took the next three semesters having the time of my life

discovering Outdoor Education. I took almost every class that I could. While attending

community college, I tested myself, by working part time as a school bus driver and a substitute

teacher. I realized that I liked helping students. I knew that I could do it. I just had one thing in

my way. I needed to attain and complete my pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree. But before I

transferred to attain my goal, I wanted to max out on as many Outdoor Education classes as I

could. I even had to file a petition that I would complete my third associate’s degree in one final

semester. I had worn out my welcome. Thus, with no more OLER classes left, I had planned on

attending UNM for the second time. Well, right about the same time as I had started back on my

college journey, My mother passed away. It was during her passing that I was to discover that I

was a member of the Choctaw Nation. It is something that I am still trying to understand. But

with my mother and her parents all deceased, there is little by way of questions answered. Only

speculation.

6
Educational Autobiography February 17, 2015 Michael D Barela

Meanwhile, I was awaiting the reply from my application to UNM. However, during an

Outdoor Education excursion trip, I had mentioned in passing to a fellow student that I was

Native American. It was there that I was told that Fort Lewis had an agreement to give out

tuition waivers for Native Americans. That information changed my plans. I was then scrambling

to apply in time to attend Fort Lewis. So, when I was admitted, and this time credits were not

accepted, I knew how to challenge them. But after one semester, I have once again run into an

obstacle. I am no longer eligible for Pell Grants. And so here I stand, having to once again

contemplate what my next move is. And I honestly don’t know what I am going to decide.

I am at yet another crossroad. I am bitter with how my education has evolved. Not with

the individual classes, although some teachers, I liked much better than others. I am instead bitter

with the institution of education. The same one that Thoreau commented on so many years ago.

The same one that upon his graduating, that as he was walking away, offered to hand him a

Master’s degree, for just another $5. Because for me, I often took the approach to college to

learn. I did not know that I would be penalized for doing well in a broad category of classes

across the curriculum. No, I was supposed to know that I was only supposed to pursue a limited

track.

And so the questions that arise in my mind seem to almost entangle themselves. What

does a degree signify? What is the purpose of a college education? Is a degree necessary to

teach? Is it financially sane to indebt oneself for years to come for a teaching career that does not

pay back with adequate dividends?