Standing Up For the Right Thing

by Simone, 6th grade student

My name is Simone Moore and I’m a 6^th grade student at Tech International Charter School.  I live with my mom, dad, my older sister, and my fraternal twin brother named Stephen, who also goes to TI Charter.   

The TI Pride pillar that I am writing about is empathy because I think it has made me stronger and taught me that I should look out for others.  Once I had to speak up for a classmate who was being bullied and even though it was not the easiest thing for me to do I still stood up for him because it was the right thing to do. This happened about a year ago when I was in fifth grade at Ampark Neighborhood School. 

One morning my teacher Ms. Fairly announced that we had a new classmate named Jeremy.  When I first heard him speak he had a familiar accent. Then I figured it out! He was from Jamaica. I knew this because my mom, who is also from Jamaica, has a similar accent.  

I didn’t pay too much attention to Jeremy until a few weeks later when I heard some of my classmates teasing him.   They made fun of the size of his head and said that he talked funny.  At first I was laughing, but then I felt guilty.   I knew I should say something but I didn’t want them to get mad at me. I knew it was wrong because when I looked at Jeremy’s face he looked liked he wanted to cry.  It made me think of when I first started going to Ampark.  We had just moved to the neighborhood and I was in the 3^rd grade.  Almost all the kids in the classroom already knew each other and I was nervous about making new friends. Would they like me?  Would I make new friends?  Would they be nice to me? These questions ran through my head and I thought Jeremy could be feeling the same way.  It was even harder for him since he came from another country.

I thought if that was me I wouldn't like it. So I decided to stand up for Jeremy.  I told my classmates to stop teasing him.  I asked them to put themselves in his shoes and told them they would feel bad if someone was saying the same thing to them.  After I said that, everyone who was teasing him stopped talking and I was happy that they listened to me.  

Over the next few weeks I noticed that some of my classmates were nicer to him and that Jeremy and some of the boys were becoming friends.  Jeremy looked more comfortable and that made me feel happy and we even became friends.

I learned from this experience to be friendly and sensitive towards new people.   When I empathize,  I put myself in other’s shoes and ask myself, how would I feel if the same thing happened to me?. I am not scared to stand up for others anymore.  I think I’m a better person today because of Jeremy.

I would really like to go to the Hilltop Diversity Conference because I believe I would make a good representative for TI.  I am a hard worker, I love to learn ,and I am always eager to meet new people.   I would be happy to share what I’ve learned with my classmates.   I also have a special connection to Fieldston because I have spent the last few summers there making friends, not to mention that several current students that attend Fieldston Middle School are former classmates of mine from Ampark.

I am enthusiastic about possibly  representing  Tech International Charter School at this upcoming conference.

           

The Time I Used TI PRIDE

by Rashaun, 6th grade student


My name is Rashaun. I am eleven years old. I was born in Brookdale University Hospital, which is located in Brooklyn. My family and I lived in Brooklyn until I was eighteen months old; then my family relocated to the Bronx where we are currently living. At the time it was my mom, my sister Ingrid, and my niece Ashanti. One event in my life that is important to me is when my older sister Ingrid died. It was very sad for my entire family and I.

The pillar of TI Pride that I experienced was empathy. The sadness and depression that I observed among my family and friends was something that greatly affected me. I too felt these emotions, and these shared emotions allowed us to support and help one another. Even after her death, Ingrid taught me so many things. I learned that family is important and that they are very supportive especially in times of bereavement.

This part of my life has made me more appreciative of my parents and elders. I recognize the wealth of knowledge, care, and unconditional love that they provide me with everyday. They teach me how to be a better person through giving me advice based on the wisdom that they have gained through their life experiences. For example, my mom encourages me to be a dedicated student and instills in me the importance of staying in school. I was very young when Ingrid died. I wish I had the chance to be with her and talk to her. It was very difficult because she was my oldest sister and the only sister that I lived with. It was hard for everyone to accept the fact that no one got to say goodbye. I believe this was the saddest part.

I have learned to always show and tell people how much I love them so that if something happens they will know that I still love them. I value the time I spend with my family each day and it makes me happy to remember the fun times I shared with my sister. I will never forget when my family and I went to the Bronx Zoo and had a picnic there. We took lots of pictures and looked at most of the animals. We always visited the parks together in the summer. We would go on the rides, and the slides. I remember going to the movies sometimes where we would enjoy popcorn and soda. My family usually takes a lot of pictures together, especially Christmas and other holidays. Once when it was one of our birthdays we would have a party, take pictures, and celebrate. We would sometimes send some of those pictures to our relatives in Jamaica. Those were some really good times. I cherish those pictures and look at them often. 

Now that my sister is no longer with us we continue to do things together as a family. We now watch movies at home, play games, and go to the park. We will always tell each other how much we love each other. At bedtime we hug, kiss each other, and pray together. On Sundays we go to church where we have a loving and caring church family. Even though we are happy as a family, things are not the same without my sister Ingrid. At times when I remember my sister Ingrid I still cry for her. OH HOW I MISS MY SISTER INGRID, HOW I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER AGAIN

I think I should be chosen to go to the Hilltop Diversity Conference because I will make the best of each and every opportunity. I will be open to learning lots of good advice from teachers and staff and use it in the future. I will make lots of friends and meet lots of new people. I want to be chosen so that I can experience a day at one of the most well known schools in the Bronx. I also want to be chosen because I want to be apart of a rigorous learning environment and be challenged like the other students who attend this school. I would like to learn about the other schools in general and learn about how they came together. Lastly, I want to be chosen because I want to be a great student and receive a full scholarship to on e of the best schools in America one day!                  

Diversity Conference Essay

by Jasmine, 6th grade student

My name is Jasmine Rosario. I am a girl in middle school. I was born and raised in New York. I am of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. My family has made me stronger in life. Knowing that i always have them to confide in and go to for help has kept me strong during difficult times. The confidence and trust I have in them has kept me strong because I know I will always have them to lean on.

The E in TI PRIDE stands for empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. When you have empathy, you are seeing from the point of view of another person. When you have empathy, some might say that you are putting yourself in another person’s shoes. For example, let’s say you friend’s mother is sick; you might say something along the lines of, “ I’m sorry, I hope she feels better.” This statement shows that you have empathy because you are feeling sorry for him/her, you are feeling his/her pain. Also, you are trying to comfort your friend during a time of need.

A difficult moment when I have used empathy is when my cousin was diagnosed with cancer. She was diagnosed about two years ago. She is being treated with chemo therapy, she was losing the hair on the left side of her head. She decided to shave the left part of her head. My cousin was worried about her appearance; she knew people would judge her. Despite how she looked, I supported her and didn’t judge. I did this because I imagined how I would feel if I was her at that time; I had empathy towards her.

My takeaway was having to see my cousin suffer from such a horrible disease that I knew could kill her. It was hard seeing someone I love going through so much pain. At the end, I got to see my cousin happy at a moment where it would’ve been likely and understandable for her to be sad and down. From this I learned the importance of empathy. I learned that empathy is important because with empathy you can see the world differently, you see it from the point of view of another. Also, you help others by helping them feel better and happier. Empathy does not only help others; but it also helps yourself. It helps you feel happy because of the satisfaction you get from knowing you did a good deed, you helped a person in need. 

Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of others. Empathy is important because it helps others get through difficult times, and it helps you by making you feel good about yourself. Empathy is a quality I possess; it has helped me get through difficult times such as when when my cousin was diagnosed with cancer. If I didn’t have empathy, then she probably would have been embarrassed of her hair and would have been sad. But, because of my empathy , she felt better and good about herself, not embarrased.

I would like to go to the Hilltop Diversity Conference because I think it would be a wonderful experience. It would be a wonderful experience because I would get to meet new people Also, I think the topic of diversity is very interesting . It is interesting to learn the perspective of people of different genders, races, sexualities, etc. because it is important to see how other people think. Seeing from the point of view of another allows you to have an opened mind and explore different possibilities. I think I deserve to go to the conference because I am smart, outgoing, and responsible young lady. I am outgoing because I always am open to trying new things. I am responsible because I always try to do what is right, and I follow the rules. Also, I am responsible because I always think about what consequences my actions can have. It would be an honor if I am chosen to participate.
                                  

Hi, I'm Phil

by Phil, 6th grade student

Hi, I'm  Phil  and  I'm  11 years old. I would I would like  to  go  to  the Hilltop  Middle  School Diversity Conference  because  I  would  like  to  learn  something new. I  would  learn  something  new at this conference  since  its  a different  environment  and  there are  different  people   that  come  from  different  places.  I  would  also  like  to  make  new  friends  because  at   the after school  meeting you  said that different  schools  and  people  would be at the conference.

Integrity - Being  honest

Empathy -  To  put  yourself   in  someone  else's  place/  position.

Times  I  Used  Integrity  and  Empathy             

There  was  one  time  where  Sam  from  ASFM   lost  his  wallet  on  the  bus;  I found it because I  saw  his  name  on it. On  the  next  day  of  school,  I  went  to  Sam  and  gave  him  his  wallet  and  then  he   said  ''Thanks''.

       

There  was  also  a  time  when  I  helped  students  in  my  class finish  their  history  work  and  helped  them  not  get  an  after-school  detention  since  the  work  was  due   that  day. At  the  end  of  the  history  class,  I  was  rewarded  with  a  pencil  that  had  soccer balls,  baseballs,  basketballs,  footballs,  and  other  colors. Also  during  I.S.  (Independent  Study ),  I  helped  two  people  with  their  TI  Lab  homework.  I  did  that  since  I  already  got  a  100%  on  my  homework  and  I  didn't want    them  to  get  a  homework  detention  after school;  I  wouldn't  want  to  stay  after  school  until  5:00 P.M since  I  might  want  to  do  something  fun  after  I  did  my  homework.

        

This  helps  in  life  because  it  shows I  can  be  trusted.  It  shows  I  can  be  trusted  because  I  can  return  things  on  time  and  I  can  help   people  in  life.   This  also  reflects  on  my  life  because  other  people  can  know  that  I'm  a  good  person.  I  have  learned  that  it  is  better  to  be  kind  to  people  than  to  be  unkind,  since  they  might  show  the  same  respect  that  I  showed  them.  The  takeaway  is  to  have  more  friends  and  to  be  a  better  person  to  others.

Friendship   Is  All  About.......

• Having each  other's backs
• Being  kind
• Helping  each  other  out
• Sharing  with  each  other
• And  most  important,  STAYING  TOGETHER  when  times  are  hard  for   your  friend.                                

In  Friendships  Its  O.K  To  Be  Different  :)

Sometimes  you  and  your  friend  might  not  have  something  in  common,  but  in  the  end  it  still  might  work out  okay, so  don't  be  nervous  to  lose  him or her  as  a  friend, just like  Tom  and  Jerry.

                       

Sometimes  your  friend  might  move  away  to  a  different  city,  state,  country,  or  continent.  So  being  a  true  friend  is  a  true  takeaway.

                                                       

Plan  B - To  have  another  plan  when  the  plan  before  that  didn't  work.

Times  to  Use  Plan  B

A  good time to  use  Plan  B  is  when  you   lose  your  homework.  At  the  end  of  the  day, if  you  lose  your  homework,  you  should  call  a  friend and see if  they  can  give  you  the  questions  on  the  homework  (but not  the  answers). You  can also  call  the  school  and  ask  them  if  you can  have  a  homework  pass  because  you  lost  your  homework.

     

Another  time  to  use  Plan  B  is  when  you  are  playing  a  sport  like  basketball  and  you  can't  make  the  basket   because  there  is  a  good  defender.  So, your  options  are  to  shoot  or  pass,  the  ball  but  when  you  try  shooting  he  blocks  the  shoot.  The next  time  you  have  the  ball,  the  same  person  comes  up  to  defend  you.  So  the  options  are  to  shoot  again  or  pass to  a  guy  who  is  open  and    ready  to  take  the  open  shot.  So  this  time  you  use  a  Plan  B  and  pass  it  to  the  open  person  and  he  makes  the last  shot  of  the  game  and  you  win.

          

Another    time  to  use  Plan  B  is  when  you  lose  your  school  Metro  Card,  you  can  go  to  a  teacher  at  4:00  p.m  to  get  another  student  Metro  Card,  or  you  can  ask  the  bus  driver  for  a  free  pass/ride. Did   you  know  that  student    Metro  Cards  cost  $640?  This important to know  because the school has to use it's money to buy another one if you lose it. If you don't lose your metro card, the school could buy more stuff that the students want.                                                                

Dedicate - To  devote  time, effort, or  oneself  to  a  particular  task  or  purpose.

Times to be  Dedicated
When  you  don't  get  something  in  school  or  when  you  want  a  good  education.

If  you  want to  be  better  at  something.

                                                 

Conclusion

Having  TI  PRIDE  is  a  lot of work , but  it  helps in  life  because it shows what type of person you are a hard-working person, an honest person, a person who helps someone else when they really need it, or even a person who makes another plan when the first plan doesn't work.   Having TI P.R.I.D.E  helps in life because  it shows you have something unique, something others might not even know about. There is something different in all of us. If you didn't find it yet it is okay.    It is okay that you don't know this yet because you are going to find out later in life, but in the meantime you could try to find it now.                   
  

School Days of Educated Pride

by Touba, 6th grade student

As a student at Tech International Charter School I value respect and in return I have been treated respectfully by my teachers, classmates, and other students throughout the school.  I am amazed at how quickly I was accepted by students and how much I am valued as a person.  There is a feeling of acceptance at TI, and we all look at each other equally.  Over the past year, the majority of my growth as a person has come from experiencing new cultures at TI.  This school has opened up a new world for me, and I take pride in the insight I have gained from a broad diversity of students’ ethnicities and interests.

            

At TI the students and their families come from different countries, such as Bangladesh, Poland, Puerto Rico, Guinea, and more.  Students are proud of their heritage, and they do not feel pressured to blend in with everyone else.  What I like most is the fact that students’ race, religion, gender and other characteristics do not separate us.  We can express our heritage and not be ridiculed for it.  The students who attend TI can be their selves especially in America, where every person has a colorful heritage to share.

            

To me, being a TI student is related to being a team player.  I know I can find help when I need it, and I will volunteer my help to someone in need.  Many students are less likely to find warm welcomes at other schools.  TI is a school where I can focus, learn, love and thrive.  It is difficult to find a school that shares the same togetherness that TI students have, and I am proud to be a link in that chain.

            

I know that TI has a lot to offer me and that is what is most exciting.  Students are competitive to get the best grades and get into a good high school.  The fact that students are so competitive helps me stay motivated to accomplish my goals.  I take pride in my work as a student at TI, and a committed attitude shows my teachers that I am willing to learn because TI is made for students who have a passion for learning.

            

Ultimately I believe that empathy is the heart of TI PRIDE because it allows students to understand each other, learn from each other, and respect each other.  Attending class with students from totally opposite beliefs and traditions not only made me aware of the diversity of our world but it also influenced my ability to understand and empathize with people from different cultures.  The ability to understand one another is one of the main benefits empathy provides and it is what makes each student at TI unique.    

            

I am very excited to be attending TI and to join with new students I have met at this school.  I have only begun to help my school with things like forming a basketball team and organizing different clubs.  As I continue my years here, I hope to instill the same feeling of TI PRIDE in newcomers as they begin to explore a new world of opportunities here.  Taking pride in my school can also inspire others to take pride in what they do and to work hard.

            

I realize from my experiences that I am capable of many things and should have the confidence to never underestimate myself.  TI has helped me to become more open minded in life and it is an honor to express the pride I have in my school at the Hilltop Diversity Conference.  Attending the conference is a rewarding experience that could offer educational and networking opportunities.  I am looking forward to connecting with students from other schools who will be participating in the conference, as well as reconnecting with friends of mine who are also invited.     

            

As I got to know some of the students at TI, I began experiencing new cultures and grew a greater appreciation for life.  The students I met are welcoming and warm, and I knew that I would be happy attending TI.  I really appreciate the kindness shown to me, and I hope to proudly return that kindness to other students who attend school here.  This is something that other schools lack, and for this reason, it is a place I will always feel welcome at and a home I will always need in order for a peaceful mind and heart.

            

I feel that I should go to the Hilltop Diversity Conference because I want to see new places, learn and see new things.  I will be a good representative for TI Charter because I am well-behaved, and I like to meet new people.  This conference can help me to be a better person in life and at school by talking with students who plan to have a career in Mathematic because my goal is to become a math teacher.  Also, I plan get information about some high schools that I can go to in the future, such as the Bronx High School of Science.  These are the reasons why I want to be chosen to go to the Hilltop Diversity Conference.    

A Quick Story About TI Charter

by Penelope, 6th grade student

My name is Penelope. I am going to tell you a quick story. One day before school stared I came to TI charter School. I was sitting there taking a test. A boy came. I never saw  him before. He was a little different. I later found out he was moving around in strange ways and making weird sounds. He sat next to me. I was freaking out. I was really nervous. I was trying not to pay attention to him. He is autistic.

Then we went to the hallway to drink water. He stared at me and said "Old school" in my face. He spit on my face and one of my awesome teachers saw it. I wasn't going to do anything back to him. I didn't want to move because I thought that it would make him angry if I  reacted. I was showing him empathy to him. I realized I am showing integrity by saying what I felt. I still think he should come to TI Charter School.

I think he should be able attend to school so he can become more social. I have seen him dedicated to his school work. It's also good that he can improve his social skills. Maybe if he was in an autistic school he would have bad social skills and he wouldn't learn anything because he would only be with autistic kids.

Sometimes when I see kids bullying him it annoys me. I tell other kids it's not funny, just  because he is different in some ways doesn't mean he doesn't think or he doesn't have a heart. He sometimes does and says weird things, but he doesn't mean to.

We can become different in a second. We don't know what our future brings. Life is something you can't predict. How life works is a mystery. People change, you might meet them and then it can take a twist. It can be us with that problem one day not him.

I think I should go to the middle school diversity conference for the following reasons: I am very focused in school. School is my main priority. I always do my homework. I don't do anything else but my homework when I get home. I am a very mature person. I am always paying attention. I would appreciate the opportunity. I would like to represent TI Charter School. I can behave. I won't be everywhere. I really want to go because I would represent TI Charter School to the best of my ability. If I go you won't regret choosing me. I work hard every day in school. I focus more on my school work than anything else. I think I would be eligible. I worked really hard on this essay. I follow TI Pride. I have a lot of empathy. I am very dedicated. I have integrity. I have resilience. I always have a Plan B. I would never give up on working hard if I don't win this contest. I will work harder than I can. Maybe I am not good enough. That would be fine. Even if I am very dedicated, it doesn't mean I am the best.

This is why I think I should go. This was my essay on how I used TI PRIDE. It was a little challenging , but I was very dedicated and I gave it my everything.

The Diversity Conference and Me, Perfect Together

by Bryce, 6th grade student

Who am I? I am Bryce Collings; I have been in situations from airplane emergency landings to helping others when they are being severely bullied. When I was in first grade, I was faced with a very important choice. I had the decision to help somebody that really needed it, or walk away. I was in first grade, and I had to go to the bathroom, so I did. 

There was a boy named Andrew that a lot of people called a “nerd” because he wore glasses. He was in the bathroom stall, and I just walked in. There were two fifth graders in there. They were making fun of Andrew because of his weight and how he looked and acted. I knew something was wrong because I heard laughing and crying. I walked closer to the noises and inside the stall I saw the door was open with Andrew and two fifth graders in there. They were picking on Andrew and laughing at him. At that moment I knew what I had to do try to stop them. I tried to stop them, but after several futile attempts of trying to stop them, I did what any first grader can do, tell a teacher. 

I told my teacher first, Mrs.Schessel. She called the main office to tell the principal so he can go and stop what was happening. I was told to tell all the teachers on the first floor what was happening. So I walked very fast to about eleven classrooms. By the time I was done, the principal caught the two perpetrators. I was told to go to the main office to tell my side of the story of-what happened, so I told exactly what I saw. After that, it was back and forth to the office, for the next two days. On the last day I had to write a report of what happened. I learned many things from this experience, like have empathy for others. If I didn’t help him, maybe nobody would have, and who knows what could have happened to him. My takeaway from this experience was just the feeling of knowing that I did something good to help someone. 

Another thing that happened to me during my eleven years is becoming a peer mediator. A peer mediator is someone who helps solve problems or conflicts that students may be having. I was a peer mediator in grades four and five. Being a peer mediator was a very good experience for me because it gave me a taste of student leadership. Peer mediation also taught me skills on helping resolve conflicts and stopping problems while they are in the midst of getting bigger. Peer mediation was a much respected thing at my old school and due to this, there were very important rules. For example you couldn’t get several detentions, you couldn’t tell anybody about conflicts that you helped solved, and you had to come to all of the meetings. My takeaway from this experience was learning to help others when they need help. The experience of being a mediator also helped to shape how I wanted to be viewed. Also mediators had to display their integrity, because we were student leaders.  

           

Another thing that I am proud of myself for is being a part of a program with the New York Philharmonic. The program is called the Bridge. This program teaches me more about music composition and theory. I have my music I composed played by famous ensembles like Loadbang and Classical Jam, and even one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world, the New York Philharmonic. The New York Philharmonic played my orchestrated piece “Out in the Woods”. Not only do I compose, I also play clarinet. 

I have been playing for about three years now. I am also learning how to play piano, and I am planning on starting to learn saxophone by the end of the year. Composing and playing music can be very stressful, and it requires a lot of dedication, because at times you just want to give up yet you know you can’t, because you can only get better I get the question, “do you want to be a musician or a composer when you grow up?” a lot. The answer is, “I do not”. I like composing, but it’s not something I would want to make into a career. If I have the choice, I would want to be an airline pilot or an architect. In a worst case scenario my plan B, would be a musician or composer. My takeaway from this is learning new things like how to compose, notate, and read music.

Another thing that happened to me in my life was being on the Dr. Oz show. This gave me my 15 minutes of fame. I was able to be on the show when my former second grade teacher sent out an email telling all the parents about how the Dr. Oz show was looking for fourth graders to be in a segment on their show. I asked my mom about responding and telling her that we were interested and my mom did. A few days later my mom called and told me that the Dr. Oz show is going to call later for a phone interview. Later that day the producer called and he asked me a lot of questions that I thought were irrelevant to the topic. One of the questions was what my favorite TV shows is, of course I said the Dr. Oz Show. I guess I passed that interview because the next day they called my mom and told her that they would want to have an in person interview. So I went to Manhattan to meet them. I went to the studio in the NBC building. I met the producers of the show and we talked for about 30 minutes, and said that we would hear from them tomorrow. I came home that day and I was told that I am going to be on the show. I was very excited and couldn’t wait until the next day (the taping of the show).

The Dr. Oz Show took care of all the transportation and they sent a limo to pick us up. We got to the studio at about 7:00 AM and the taping was at 9:00PM. We had our own dressing room for that day. A few hours later I was taped, and a few months later it was aired on national television. Today I am still noticed by people who saw the episode. When I was on the Dr. Oz show, I had to be resilient, because even though I was nervous I couldn’t let it show.

I would like to participate at the Diversity Conference, because I think it would be a great experience for me to learn new things, like learn about different programs I may be able to be a part of. The conference would also give me the chance to meet new people, with different backgrounds, and who come from different places. I also think that this conference would also open me up to new things that I didn’t know about. I think another reason why I should attend, is because if I learn a lot of new things and meet a lot of new people, my takeaway from this experience is going to be huge, and filled with a lot of things that I can teach and tell my fellow students about.  This experience may be something I would never have the chance to do again, and this conference would probably leave me with a lot of good memories, and I may establish new friendships with people I otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet. If I go to this conference, it may shape my full potential.