# data[].attributes.body
After learning everything throughout this class, I want to be a teacher for EVERY child. I want to be someone who is always open minded, who my students feel I provide a safe environment. I do not want to be those angry teachers who take out their life on their students or who show any judgement towards the students. I want my students to feel welcomed, safe and happy.

# data[].attributes.body
From this week's lecture, something that really resonated with me was how teachers interpret children's actions as wrong behaviors. I was shadowing in a classroom when the teacher was telling me about a child that always "acts up" and "misbehaves", but she also told me their parents were getting a divorce. I thought it was interesting that she didn' t really connect the two or point out that his behavior was most likely a coping mechanism, it seemed like she was just gossiping.

# data[].attributes.body
Justice intersects with space and play by being the environment that children absorb. Children are very aware of their surroundings and when there is a lack of justice for either themselves or their peers, they see that. If they do not feel that they are adequately receiving justice and feel uncomfortable in their environment, they are most likely going to be limited in the play. However, I also feel like sometimes play can be an escape for children when they are surrounded by injustice.

# data[].attributes.body
I have not realized much in the past how culture effects me because I honestly feel like I do not have much of a culture and that I am really disconnected with the culture of my family and it honestly hurts. I feel left out and less than others who experience it fully. My community close to me, my friends, are a pretty diverse range of cultures that I was almost jealous to not identify with one really.

# data[].attributes.body
Growing up, I never really thought of myself as an abled privilege or the privilege that comes with that. I see myself now and acknowledge the things that come along with not having a disability. The fact that I did not have anything stopping me from doing daily tasks left me with a lot of room to express my agency freely.

# data[].attributes.body
Monolingualism has had a negative effect on me honestly. I have always felt so disconnected from my culture because I can't speak Spanish. I wish I grew up speaking Spanish and I did take Spanish in middle and high school but it really did not stick with me. I feel like if I spoke Spanish it could have elevated my confidence growing up, making friends and feeling comfortable to put myself in new situations. I am planning on taking Spanish courses here at UT so I think that if I stick with it, it can help me grow culturally and eventually with my career. I think its super important to be bilingual as an educator to connect with all of your students and their families.

# data[].attributes.body
I grew up mostly raised by my grandpa, as he took care of me while my mom was working, so I was considered a tomboy most of the time. However, I still liked dolls and playing dress up, but then I could also just wear baggy jeans and a t shirt and go play in the dirt outside. I realize now that I was very flexible as a child because I did not have gender roles imposed on me. I was free to dress and play however I wanted. Unfortunately, I did not see my male family members really experience the same thing. Whenever my male cousins would play with "girly" toys, my aunts were okay with it but some of my uncles would crictize them. I remember the first time I was called out for not conforming to gender norms. I was in the 6th grade and I did not want to wear a skirt to my cousin's rehearsal dinner and my cousin asked me if I was gay just because I didn't want to wear a skirt. Then, I honestly didn't even know what that meant but I could tell by his tone he was judging me. Now I realize how harshly gender and sexuality stereotypes are so compacted into some people's minds, they simply cannot see the world another way. Once I became a teenager, I felt it necessary to be more girly and try to dress up more but once I graduated high school I realized I can be whoever I want. Why was I trying to be a certain way all of the time? Somedays, I want to wear baggy clothes and a big t shirt and no make up and somedays I want to wear a skirt and put make up on. There is no right or wrong way to live my life and I think it is so important to tell young children this so they do not suppress who they truly are just to please society.

# data[].attributes.body
Growing up, racism never had a direct effect on me personally. Although I was not a victim of it, I was definitely aware of it and unfortunately saw it often in my small town. I did not benefit from it , except for gaining awareness and learning how to and how not to treat my future students. I could see the effect even some teachers had in racism and I could clearly see what kind of environment I want and do not want to put my students or anyone else in general in. I do have the privilege of not being stereotyped or even looked down upon, unlike unfortunately how other people are because of their race.

# data[].attributes.body
After watching the film Babies, I did think a lot about my own growing and also how I have seen other babies grow. I noticed in other cultures babies are a lot more free and able to explore on their own. I feel like I, along with other babies I have seen, are very protected and constantly being almost suffocated by the parents. The babies across other cultures have so much agency, and of course their parents are making sure they are safe, but they do not interfere. I feel like babies here, like myself, are coddled and well, babied.

# data[].attributes.body
Growing up, I feel like I honestly did not have that much agency in school. I feel like the main focus was to be good - follow directions. Even recently when I went to observe a 4th grade classroom every week for the 2019 spring semester, I saw how limited students were. I was in a language arts classroom and they were barely able to discuss anything. Most of the work was either on their own laptop provided by the school or worksheets. Even then before this class, I remember thinking that this doesn't feel like a comfortable and engaging learning space. I actually started to feel bad for the students I wanted to interact and engage with them much more but the teacher was so restrictive. I realized today that although I did not have an incredible amount of agency as a child in school, I was lucky enough to have it at home with my family. I was taken to interactive museums and some camps to where I could learn from myself and that played a huge role in my development. In school, I was a very quiet, shy student while at home I was the complete opposite because I felt accepted and safe and allowed to adventure.

# data[].attributes.body
I grew up in Bastrop, TX, which is a small town just outside of Austin. Unfortunately, it is pretty much a conservative town that is not incredibly open minded, but it is definitely growing. I am Hispanic, but I was raised by my white mother and her parents - barely seeing or experiencing my culture from my dad’s side. I never really got into religion aside from the couple times of going to church with a friend growing up - it’s not really my thing and it had no impact on my development or academics. Although I did grow up in a predominantly conservative white town and even went to Texas A&M for two years which has that same demographic, I do not identify or agree with that environment.

# data[].attributes.body
Not too far from here!

# data[].attributes.headline
I previously went to school at Texas A&M University for 2 years.

# data[].attributes.subject
I previously went to school at Texas A&M University for 2 years.

# data[].attributes.body
Luckily, I came to my senses and transferred to UT. ;)

# data[].attributes.headline
I identify as a liberal when it comes to politics.

# data[].attributes.subject
I identify as a liberal when it comes to politics.

# data[].attributes.headline
I grew up with a single mother which strengthened my female identity and confidence.

# data[].attributes.subject
I grew up with a single mother which strengthened my female identity and confidence.

# data[].attributes.headline
I am not religious, but I am somewhat spiritual and believe in the power of the universe.

# data[].attributes.subject
I am not religious, but I am somewhat spiritual and believe in the power of the universe.

# data[].attributes.body
Although I was not able to grow up fully immersed in my culture, I am now able to make those connections and learn more.

# data[].attributes.headline
I identify as an LGBT+ ally and advocate.

# data[].attributes.subject
I identify as an LGBT+ ally and advocate.

# data[].attributes.body
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8311yY0RzNJ1vXSGc2lmhV_iScEtnlM/view?usp=sharing