A huge education gap

Yesterday, I wrote about my experience at Simmons high school and failed to analyze the atmosphere of the school compare to mine in Baltimore in my comments. It is only after meeting Dr. Sybil Hampton this afternoon that I was able truly comprehend the situation and go beyond the superficial writing I did last time. 

As I entered the school, I saw two posters at the entrance bearing the message that having a child at a young age is a guarantee that a young adult's dream and ability to have fun is over. In the same way, the school hardly had any inspirational, or positive positives like "Dream Big" posters that I was used to see in my school. Thus from the beginning, the African American children living in Money, Mississippi are fearful and option less because they have been educated and raised with the message that if they commit one mistake: it is over.  In addition to that, the high school lack of computers, many books and many posters encouraging readiness for college  means  that these children are not encouraged and often not  motivated  to go college; therefore resulting in their community overall ability to never really move up the wealth latter. 

The percentage of diversity is so low at Simmons School as I only saw one white student during my stay at the school. That being due to the fact that the parents of the child were most likely too poor to afford an education to one of the all white private school (as is has been done by many Caucasian families) created in Money, Mississippi  by the white community.

This current situation is another example of the huge educational gap present between poor African Americans, poor Caucasians( and other poor minorities) and Caucasians, where one see the majority of the whites students taking advanced classes and getting into more colleges while African Americans and other poor minorities often graduate from high school below their grade level and have low college acceptance rates. 

Ultimately, this revelation made me hopeful because despite the fact that these young adults do not have the same opportunities and resources that I have, they were still fueled with hope and that feeling is one that I know is going to motivate me every single to continue to work hard, become successful and help others by making a change. 

Rochinelle Dongmo

12^th grade, City College