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College Admissions Essay: Langston Hughes And The Foundation Of My Education

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“Life ain't been no crystal stair”; the words of Langston Hughes reverberates through my head. Much like Hughes, I have found my freedom and expression through words. This freedom bestowed upon me has made me come to one conclusion: I want to teach English. From a young age, I have constantly been told school is not a place to learn, rather school is a place to learn how to think, and as a teacher, it is wholly imperative for me to incite the thinkers of tomorrow. I am a Washington Heights native, and the foundation of my education was laid in Harlem. I am dedicated to using my New York experience and fusing it with my love for words in the fight to ensure our students learn to think and take their rightful place as tomorrow's champions. …show more content…

During adolescence, I sat in dilapidated classrooms without fully functional lighting and materials, and was taught by dispassionate teachers—I was even called stupid by an 8th grade teacher. This experience has not only prepared me, but also taught me that leadership and compassion is the way to get through to students, especially those who are having issues with comprehension and motivation. Even as an adult, I struggle to come to terms with the notion that I am squandered potential, and I am left, at an older age, to discover who I want to be and what mark I will leave on this Earth. Without having the support of teachers and administrators who cared about my success, I often think about how far I would have been propelled in life. What would I be able to accomplish? Where would I be now? Would I have started this journey earlier? It is only through grit, hardworking, aspirations, and tenacity that I was able to thrive as a

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The development of the Harlem neighborhood in New York City, as a black cultural time period in the early 20th century is also known as the Harlem Renaissance. This time period, 1910’s to the mid 1930’s, was very successful and considered the Golden Age in African American history, performing arts, music and literature. At one point, like many, a group of people who had no power nor place in society are now changing the world one step at a time. This time period changed America using Langston Hughes, the Great Migration and the “New Negro” organization organized by Marcus Garvey.

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Upon getting my GED, I found my love of learning, and escaped my “cave” which was full of sadness, ignorance, and hate. Once we overcame our obstacles to get to educational freedom, we each had different outcomes. Once Plato’s caveman returns to the cave, he shares what he has learned in the outside world and is put to death because others in the cave are ignorant and scared of the truth. After escaping my “cave”, I decided to become a teacher because

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Arne Duncan, an American education administrator once said, “When I ask teachers why they teach, they almost always say that it is because they want to make a difference in the lives of children.” This statement hold true for countless teachers across the nation, and Mr. Warren Bowe is no exception. The moment the assignment was in my hands I began brainstorming possible candidates for the interview. Although I was disappointed I could not interview my former A.P. English teacher Mrs. Bowe, I was just as delighted to interview her husband, Mr. Bowe, whom taught English at Chippewa Falls Senior High School as well.

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In "Narrative: The Power of Storytelling" the author explains that a narrative is a simple story that is significant to you. In "Salvation" Langston Hughes recounts a significant time in his life. Hughes goes into great detail sharing a life event from when he was twelve, he wrote using a natural voice and used descriptive techniques from his memory to make you feel like you were in the church with him. In "Narrative: The Power of Storytelling" the author also says "you must show and not just tell", Hughes did just that in his narrative. When Hughes described the church and the members I could picture them all individually.

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He directly speaks about past teachers and experiences with education he's had, and his hopes for future teachers. Since this speech went viral and got positive feedback from many, it is effective in reaching the intended audience, and has potential to create a true change in how teachers treat their students and the education system. Livingston presents a call to action for teachers and future teachers to help their students reach their full potential, help them with their obstacles, and foster equality in the classroom.

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America is not what people have always made it seem , for in reality it does no live up to its reputation. By comparing what people say America is and what actually happens in the country one would realize that you can not believe everything you hear. Langston Hughes appeals to the minorities and immigrants of America by using imagery and repatition to help them relate to the situation and realize that America is not what it has said to have been; to make them want to make a change and make it what it is said to be, a place of dreams. By appealing to the minorities Langston wants to make them realize what they have an opportunity to have and for them to make the most of that opportunity , receiving that equality that America is supposedly all about. When he says “seeking a home where he himself is free … America was never America to me” is because America is supposed to be about being free, a place where one could come to be free.

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Education is an important tool in a world full of diverse viewpoints. It enables the development of key skills needed to better understand the world and improve on society. Diversity within a society is not necessarily counterproductive but rather beneficial if it is used intelligently because it can be viewed as its own form of education. “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes effectively highlights the connections between education and diversity which in turn gives a better understanding of “The Allegory of the Cave,” “From Metaphors We Live By,” and “On Communication.” One key point that Hughes touched upon in his work was the diversity between the student and the professor.

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I wanted to take the time to thank you for what was the most challenging as well as refreshing English class I have ever taken. I thought the choices of authors were a wonderful representation of a range of modern literature; I have definitely taken down a few of the writer’s names so I can check out more of their works. In a way, this class was what a student dreams that college classes are like: discussion-based, complete with a tiny class size; the professor acting as guide to the daily discussions, allowing the students to lead the flow, something you did masterfully. You pushed me like no professor has before, and for that you have my sincerest thanks.

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Langston Hughes was an American poet, activist, and innovator, best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout his life, he wrote a series of novels, short stories, essays, poems, etc. In Hughes' poem, "I, Too," the speaker is talking about where he sits when he eats. After a brief description of how he is being excluded from society, the speaker reflects on how he strives for justice. Throughout the poem, Hughes envisions where the speaker sits when he eats, conveying the idea that he desires equality.

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In this school district I was given ample chances to stretch my mind and my experiences. I had deadlines, due dates, and major grade projects. I was given opportunities to skip ahead, but never rose to the honor. At the apex of my childhood I had the work mentality of “pencil pusher”. I never really enjoyed kid things.

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A recent study released by Pearson that questioned over 400,000 students in grades 6-12 shows that only “48% of students think their teachers care about them…and only 45% of students think teachers care if they are absent from school” (Hare, 2015). This shocking statistic demonstrates what American students think about their teachers. Most students are under the impression that their teachers don’t care about them. When teachers don’t care about their students and allow them to fail, many students with unrealized potential give up on education. Mike Rose’s “I Just Wanna Be Average” describes his journey through high school on the vocational track after the results of his “tests got confused with those of another student named Rose” (Rose, 1989, p. 2).

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Prompt: Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. Background: On a hot and humid day, my course at a Columbia University Summer Program toured Harlem through the same route as the one described in Langston Hughes’s, Theme for English B. In his poem, Hughes describes his walk from City College to his home in Harlem.

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Langston Hughes graduated high school in 1920. After graduation, Hughes spent time with his father which led to his first poem published in 1921. After attending college for only one year, he decided to drop out in order to travel. During his college career, he became a part of the Harlem’s cultural movement known as the Harlem Renaissance. Later, his poetry had been promoted which led to his first book publishing in 1926.

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In the poem “I, Too”, the author Langston Hughes illustrates the key aspect of racial discrimination faces against the African Americans to further appeals the people to challenge white supremacy. He conveys the idea that black Americans are as important in the society. Frist, Hughes utilizes the shift of tones to indicate the thrive of African American power. In the first stanza, the speaker shows the sense of nation pride through the use of patriotic tone. The first line of the poem, “I, too, sing America” states the speaker’s state of mind.

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Education is a huge issue that not only affects kids and their parents, but their community as well. Schools teach young kids to become the next generation of engineers, technicians, and political leaders, working towards creating a better future for their country and their community. Teachers have the unique job of creating the future leaders of the world, and preparing them for both college and life beyond, by putting a special push towards math and science, the so-called “foundation” of our society. The hard truth is, no one can be anything they want to be. Some people are simply not cut out to be engineers, doctors, or psychologists.

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