Karey, New Mother, Interventional Radiologic Technologist, FL
“I think that every kid has the same potential, but it’s the environment that they are exposed to that impacts their life outcomes. You see successful people, and I don’t mean rich, but someone who is really enriching a community or society because they were fed into by the right people. That’s why it’s so scary to choose who is going to educate my child.”
Karey is a new mother and radiologic technologist in Tampa, Florida. She is married to Geo and has a newborn baby girl, Bella. Karey began her own education in a Montessori environment and wants a similar environment for her own child. She was interviewed by her close friend since 5th grade, Nicole.
Imagine your child (or one you care about deeply) is now in their 30s – out of school and starting into adult life. What do you hope for them about their life? What would make it a ‘good’ life?
I hope that her education leads her into a position where she can start her life at 30, where she’s set up not having to worry about finding a good position, not even in terms of money but in security. That she feels accomplished and that she’s happy in what she’s doing. What might that look like? I can only relate it to myself, right now, I’m doing something not because I was forced into it but because I feel like I’m changing the world. I hope that she’s making a difference and feeling fulfilled in that as a result of the stepping stones that got her there. That’s her education. I never really realized that until I had a kid, that she’s spending more of her time with her teachers than us. You just realize, I’m not the only one parenting my kid now.
“ I never really realized that until I had a kid, that she’s spending more of her time with her teachers than us. You just realize, I’m not the only one parenting my kid now.”
What did school do for you? Was there a teacher that impacted you?
School taught me ambition. I didn’t know what that was until I got an education. School kept me curious, and informed me about what I could achieve. Because I had teachers that built me up and encouraged me. My teachers played a huge role in where I am today. Ms. Sonia, my elementary school teacher was incredibly impactful. I built a strong relationship with her and was able to have individual attention given to my strengths. Ms. Sonia really did a great job in being able to build on my strengths. The confidence and reassurance I got under her care in elementary school really set the bar for me moving forward of wanting to learn and having that desire to learn. If you don’t have that desire to learn, school is going to be a struggle. You can be in the best program, but if you don’t have that drive to learn and you don’t enjoy school, you feel discouraged or insecure, that’s going to have a big impact on your experience.
What do you think is the purpose of school?
I think that every kid has the same potential, but it’s the environment that they are exposed to that impacts their life outcomes. They might not be getting the right education, the right connections, or something isn’t getting through to them. And then you see successful people, and I don’t mean rich, but someone who is really enriching a community or society because they were fed into by the right people. That’s why it’s so scary to choose who is going to educate my child.
