Foundations of Education Timeline by Qua'lani Ferguson

June 1996 : Birtday

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:38 UTC

I was in Brooklyn, NY on Father’s Day as my parents' first child.

August 1996: First Day of School

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:38 UTC

My parents returned to work when I was 2 months old and I was enrolled in a community daycare program. My parents described me as independent. I was walking by 10 months and fully potty trained by 2. I believe enrolling at a daycare so soon contributed to my quick development.

August 1999: The Start Of My Litercy Journey

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:38 UTC

Education was a huge part of my household so I had a strong desire to learn. My mother had never gotten the opportunity to go to college so she pushed me as much as possible. My father and material grandmother did earn a degree so I understood the steps I needed to take. My parents began to hang educational posters in my room and around the house around age 3. Posters like nursery rhymes, basic colors, numbers 1-20, and animals. I was able to identfy basic sight words by age 5. My mother being bilingual I was also able to speak and understand Spanish.

September 2000: Combining Education & Religion

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:38 UTC

I started preschool at age 4. My preschool was within a church. I learned the basics of education and understood my family's religious beliefs. This time period was a bit confusing to me at such a young age. I remember being told things I had to unlearn in later years in school. I believe spending so much time in a religious institution taught me self regulation and discipline at a early age. I knew how to sit still for long periods of time, how to speak only when asked, and I understood the importance of community.

August 2002: First Day of Public School

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:38 UTC

My little brother was born and I was also enrolled in kindergarten at a local public school. Kindergarten was my first time being in a non-religious institution. Along with enrolling in public school, I was also starting sports. I joined the swim team at age 6. Since I now had a little brother I was forced to become even more independent. By this time my parents were new parents again I was not the sole focus. Since I had always been independent and had historically done well in school my parents had not noticed my struggles right away or that I was experiencing a level of discrimination.

July 2004: The Journey of Public Charter Schools

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:38 UTC

I moved upstate New York and enrolled in the 2nd grade at a public charter school. I stayed at this school until the 4th grade. This school was the first time my parents were told I had some difficulties with reading. Since I was struggling I hated reading and preferred math and art. In my public charter school I started out behind. I was also struggling with behavior issues because I was exposed to new rules that were far to complicated to be successful with. My parents choose this school specifically from so many others. They agreed with the mission and supported the goals. I did not have much say and since I had little experience in anything else it was all I knew.

September 2006 : Dyslexia?

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:38 UTC

I started middle school at a single-sex public charter school. I stayed until the 8th grade. I was evaluated for dyslexia and was not diagnosed. My school did not have resources to meet my needs so I began to cope when in school. There was no special education program or a social worker or interventionlist to help create a plan for me. My pareants found programs outside of school and I was enrolled in summer school and after-school tutoring programs for all 3 years until I was caught up and evenually beyond where I needed to be.

September 2010: High School

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:38 UTC

I was accepted into the first all-girl public charter high school upstate New York, with all honors classes. I would've been the first graduating class, so there were quite a bite of kinks the school had not worked out just yet. My first two years at this school felt experimental. Unfortunately my charter school did not offer AP classes, fine art programs, limited extracurricular activities and limited sports. In NY state I was required to take the regents which was a summative test I would take in my junior and senior year.

April 2012: Falling In Love with Reading

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:39 UTC

My mom was pregnant at the end of my sophomore year and this is when I dove into books. My teacher introduced to the Hungry Games series and learned that reading could be funny. After years of avoiding reading I had finally found a way to get into reading. Dystopias were my obsession, Hunger Games, and Harry Potter. Eventually I became interested in social studies and politics.

June 2012: Moving to Maryland

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:09:39 UTC

I moved to Maryland at the start of my junior year to a predominately White public school. My courses were completely different at this point. I had many classes that were freshman classes because the required classes were different from New York. The classes that were at my grade level were general courses because all honors and advancement placements were full. I graduated pretty low in my class because of my experience as a new student. I thought it was interesting because I was not the only Black student was at the bottom of the class. Despite having an interesting academic experience at my school I was able to join many clubs I did not have the opportunity to join in my public charter school.

August 2015: HBCU

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:52:47 UTC

Selecting a college after high school was so farfetched by this point for me. I was now the oldest for 3 siblings and very recent resident to the area. Before being accepted into Morgan State University I thought it was important for me to discover my desire for education again. I earned 25 credits at Baltimore County Community College. I started Morgan State as a history major in 2015 and earned a degree in political science in 2020.

January 2021

qualaniferguson — 2024-08-05 00:54:22 UTC

While in college I worked a preschool teacher's assisstant, in after school programs and a paraeducator in my senior year of college. After earning my degree I became a leader teacher for 3 years while I enrolled in Notre Dame of Maryland in an attempt to earn a certification in teaching. I then transferred to American University to earn both a certification and a masters in 2023.