My Opinion about Problems in Society - Personal Statement Example

Story one – my experience growing up (family story)

a. Part of the story

As I grew up, I faced a dilemma on which was the best church to go to. This is following the fact that my parents attended different churches. My mother wanted me to go to her church, while the expectations of my father were the same. This issue brought confusion because I did not want to disobey any of my parents. The dilemma presented in this case is related to the situation portrayed in the reading "Teaching Religion in America’s Public Schools: A Necessary Disruption“ by Jeff Passe and Lara Willox. This reading discusses the issue of whether or not religious studies should be taught under social studies. It provides some insights into why the parents and teachers should make some efforts to let the student acquire knowledge about religion from home and school.

b. Part of the story

I have experienced various biases because of my cultural affiliation, religion, age, and social class. I have been to places where they only allow individuals from certain ethnic groups, and these places had a thing in common, biases and prejudice. I felt rejected, or like an outcast, I almost regretted being a member of my cultural group. I remember a time when I walked into the store, and one of the attendants seemed to keep a sharp eye on me than my friends. This broke my heart to discover that people from some biases without considering my personality. These biases relate to the reading "Case 6.1: Black Lives Matter," which shows the racial tension between the whites and black in the US. From my story, people tend to judge based on my looks or how I speak, which forms the basis of prejudice and discrimination.

c. Part of the story

The incidences that I have encountered in life relates to what happens to special populations in the US. I have seen the minority groups and individuals with special needs go through different challenges. I have seen such populations being discriminated in society just because of who they are. I have a friend who is a dwarf; the primary issue that he faces is that people barely want to be his friend. They hardly treat him with respect and dignity as he deserves. This relates to the case of Teryn in the reading "Case 7.2: Gendered Bathrooms" who is despised and disregarded by her peers simply because she is a transgender person. She is rejected by other girls not because she could harm them but because of her past sex and gender identity. This affirms the tendency of the students to show hostility towards transgender persons.

d. Part of the story

Also, my encounter connects to other individuals in the society who face various challenges because they look different from the larger group. For instance, the persons who have undergone gender change or the members of LGBTQ are likely to be discriminated simply because of their personal identifying qualities.

e. The implication for you as a future teacher

My past encounters have serious implications for me as a teacher, and this is because I will have to face the same issues in my practice. I may face the problems related to gender like Ms. Grover in the case "Case 7.3: Timmy's Gender Nonconformity." Thus, my personal experience will be helpful in my practice because it will help in dealing with the issues presented by colleagues and students.

Story two - my experience growing up (school story)

a. Part of the story

I have been to several schools, which has given me a chance to meet different individuals from different backgrounds. These individuals have taught me many things. I have seen students being rejected because of their differences or beliefs, which gave rise to stigmatization. My school story connects to special populations like the disabled and homosexuals. In my school life, I have witnessed instances where students are not willing to associate with others simply because of their sexual orientation. This situation echoes the case presented in Timmy’s situation in the “Case 7.3: Timmy’s Gender Nonconformity.” In this case, Timmy was mostly interested in the activities that are identified with the girls. This shows some of the challenges that minority groups in society go through.

b. Part of the story

The school story connects to different biases because judging and discriminating people based on their qualities can be among the worst forms of biases I have encountered. These biases include being associated with certain qualities in society only because you belong to a particular cultural group. For instance, in Tim's case, the other students had developed biases towards his inclination to girl toys and behaviors.

c. Part of the story

This story connects to others who have the same experience as me from different institutions and communities. Individually, I have met different people from the indigenous communities who failed to get essential services from the offices because of their culture. Some have discriminated against others, while others have been discriminated against.

d. Part of the story

This story relates to different religions because, in schools, the students belong to different religions. This gives rise to various concerns related to differences in beliefs. Some belief in polytheism, while others believe in monotheism, which gives rise to differences in beliefs. This part of the story is related to the reading “Teaching Religion in America's Public Schools: A Necessary Disruption" by Jeff Passe and Lara Willox that highlights the issue of incorporating the religious studies into social studies. The inception of the religious studies in the social studies subjects will enhance the understanding of the learners not only in their religion but also of others, which makes them appreciate all religions.

e. The implication for you as a future teacher

As a teacher, this story has significant implications as it echoes the issues that teachers encounter in the learning institutions. As a teacher, I am likely to face an ethical dilemma presented by some problems related to sex, religion, and race. This shows the need to understand different needs among the learners and address them as a teacher.

Story three - my experience growing up (friends’ story)

a. Part of the story

As I grew up, I had a friend who was often bullied by other learners because she could not talk like the rest of us. This made most people in the neighborhood avoid talking to her. Besides, she came from a humble background, which made other kids make fun of her. This story is associated with biases and prejudices, which are common in American society. This is a representation of what happens to the larger American society.

b. Part of the story

This story connects to others in society because it highlights the most prevalent issues in society. Society is made up of individuals who are unique in their ways. Because of this, people are discriminated against by others simply because they are different. For instance, Native Americans have been portrayed negatively in the past by the media and society.

c. Part of the story

My friend's story connects to the piece of religion because it is a manifestation of how people are treated because of their religion. For instance, the Islamic religion faces some form of discrimination as people have learned to associate its members with terrorism. This relates to the issue presented in the reading "Case 6.1: Black Lives Matter," which focuses on the police brutality geared towards the African-Americans. Thus, people are judged based on how they look and their cultural groups rather than who they are.

d. Part of the story

In the broader population, individuals within the special groups face challenges as they struggle to make their lives better in the US. For instance, women and people living with disabilities are not given equal opportunities in the workplace since they are usually underestimated. For instance, the reading "Case 6.6: Build The Wall” illustrates a situation where the team members are discriminated against by their rivals who echo the idea of keeping the Mexicans off the US borders. This shows a lack of unity and acceptance among the students.

e. The implication for you as a future teacher

This story implies that I will have to deal with numerous issues, which include helping the students with the problem of self-image and self-esteem. I believe that learners face numerous concerns that affect their emotional and academic well-being. Also, the story implies that a teacher must always be prepared to handle various issues in the school setting.