Sadness

By Paul Yumbla

Scouring the Internet for more personal and compelling tales about immigration reform than simply hearing the argument conveyed through a speechwriter I stumbled upon the following image.

(Source: Scott Olson/Getty Images North America)

The above photograph is of undocumented immigrant Guillermo Campos-Ojeda as he says goodbye to his wife and young daughter before boarding a deportation flight chartered by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I include this tragic image for two reasons. The first is the obvious notion that more people need to see this. The second is the personal element conveyed in this photograph that does more than tug the heartstrings. Images, personal turmoil, and witnessing a family disaster like this allows for this country's broken immigration system to be seen through a different light. It’s something else to see the face of deportation rather than hearing arguments about immigration control come from politicians. These are real people, many of them extremely hard-working and willing to sacrifice a tremendous amount to not only put food on the table but offer their children a brighter future. Many of them are locked away for no other reason but being here illegally, jailed up with all sorts of convicts.

My thoughts on education and its state of disarray

By Paul Yumbla.

(photo from the Precious Knowledge Film website)

At the Latin American Studies center at the University of Connecticut where the movie “Precious Knowledge” was screened earlier this week, I had the opportunity to connect with Latino students, as well as getting the chance to meet with Teach for America. This film shed light onto the racial tensions surrounding the Tucson community before, during, and after the removal of Ethnic/Raza studies in public high schools. This helped put unfortunate situations such as this Arizona controversy into perspective. There are teachers that are trying to operate under a regime that serves the very few and often from a very specific zip code.

I recommend this film for anyone interested in hearing the voice of those criticized for attempting to see where they fit in. As a future teacher, this strikes a chord with me. It drives forward my ambition to make social change in any way. I am a teacher.  I would love to be able to teach.  Just teach. Not document every sentence, jump through a different hoop every year, justify my existence, or give endless standardized tests.

I want to be able to teach, encourage and inspire. To help each child discover his/her own strengths. To challenge children's minds and help them develop essential skills. To create thinkers. I would love to be able to teach. I bring experience from my early age to any conversation, debate, and discussion revolving around education. 

Join an Immigration Reform Event Near You!

Now is the time to keep the pressure on for comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship for all and to end our senseless militarization of immigration enforcement. Check here for a listing of October 5 events near you: October Immigration. October 5 is the National Day for Dignity and Respect/Dia Nacional Dignidad y Respeto.