Professional Responsibility (CAEP R1.

4):
Engage in professional learning, act ethically, take responsibility for
student learning, and collaborate with others.

Evidence:
I had the opportunity to interview someone who was adopted from the Philippines and
whose parents are from the United States and South Korea. I was able to ask the
interviewee questions about his cultural background, as well as questions about his
educational experiences because of his cultural background.

Narrative:
This interview was particularly interesting
because not only was the interviewee adopted
from the Philippines, but his mother grew up in
South Korea. He was mostly shaped by the
cultures of his adoptive parents, but their
family also lived in Brazil for part of his life.
From this, I was able to gain knowledge of
how people can be influenced by many cultures
through blood or through living in an area
populated with a high population of one
ethnicity.

Reflection:
I enjoyed this interview because the interviewee was influenced by multiple cultures. Something that
especially stood out to me was how the interviewee was stereotyped in school. He would frequently be
bullied in both Brazil and in the United States because of the stereotype that “all Asians are
intelligent” and he recalled feeling a lot of pressure to do well in school because of this stereotype. For
me this puts things into perspective for my own classroom because it shows me how very aware I need
to be of stereotypes. It shows me how I must work to ensure I eliminate my personal biases and ensure
that my lessons do not reflect any stereotypes that could harm my students. I can also make sure to
have conversations with my students about stereotypes to help eliminate them within the class, thereby
making all students feel welcome.