Jacqueline is the ideal teacher anyone would want for their child. She is caring, respectful and aware of the sensitivities of being a teenager in America day to day. On this day she is just weeks away from receiving her doctoral degree in education. With passion she shares the background of women in education and how important it is that the representation is there now and continues to be supported as a force. She shares her story of adoring being a teacher and also not being supported by her principal to get this degree, however she was always supported by her mother. Their relationship was as solid as a mother/ daughter episode could be. Her mom drops her the wisdom she needs to push forward and the strength to remember who she is and what she’s capable of. Jacqueline was picked on as a kid and often felt lonely, like an outsider tends to feel. But she found her teaching love in poetry. She’d stand in front of her students and speak about how wonderful the connection between the words and the painting of pictures can be. She had found her place, her purpose. This is a warming story of growth and what it means to find your passion and having the courage to follow it in the midst of challenges.
Hanging Upside Down
I just finished the final page of my dissertation. In a matter of months, I will officially be Dr. Jacqueline Rogers. Makes me smile every time, sometimes it makes me giggle… that I made it this far. I talk to my mom every day. Yes, I’m one of those people that kind of needs that support. She’s always been there you know. When I was in elementary school and Jason Dawkins told me I was ugly, I was stupid, because all girls are stupid, I distinctly remember running out of the classroom and I wondered the halls until I found my way onto the playground. Hanging upside down on the monkey bars I just swayed… looking at the school building, counting down the minutes until I could go home. The blood flowing to my head was a speeding car of thoughts but always gave me clarity. Wish we had adult playgrounds; places we could go and find that level of understanding but as adults- we’d all be living at our highest levels all the time. But on that day, if I knew where my house was from the school, I think I would’ve left. But eventually, the end of day bell rang, and as I went to my bus, mom was standing there. I thought I was in trouble, but she didn’t look too mad, but then again mom was really good at hiding those things. I kept my head down and climbed in the front seat of the car. “He said I was stupid mama. He said that all girls are stupid. And it made me so mad!”