Jahlyn to Mexico

It is that time of the year again: Isla Mujeres, Mexico. My brother and high school Spanish teacher have been leading a service and medical mission trip by offering free dental care to people on the island for almost a decade. They have started a non-profit organization known as the Smile Foundation. Each trip brings more joy and a richer understanding of what it looks like to lose your life for others. It is funny to think about how a couple of years ago being a dentist was the only thing in my foreseeable future. Now, I love what I do (I could ramble but if you want to know more, you should read my previous blog entry).  I am immensely thankful for the opportunities my family has provided over the years to travel. I know each journey has helped to make me who I am today. I teach several students who have not been able to travel for various reasons, and therefore, have not been able to see what riches the whole world and different cultures have to offer.

           

Let me re-introduce you to Jahlyn: the student who inspired my vision for high school Chemistry at PCA. 

Over the last three years, I have seen Jahlyn mature into an intelligent, hard-working, and articulate young man. To meet and talk to him, you would not guess that he sometimes walks 3 hours to get home from school or practice because he rarely has transportation (he hates to burden people by asking for rides, but don’t worry he is getting much better at calling me for rides when he needs them), does his homework on the floor of a closet to get away from the noise of his overcrowded apartment, or has not ventured far from the limits of Memphis city. He has the highest average in my Chemistry course and takes advantage of every opportunity to give back to his community including picking up trash, tutoring refugees, fundraising, growing a community garden, playing rugby, running track, serving on student council, and more.  The thing is Jahlyn wants experience, learn, and travel. When Jahlyn is in college, he wants to study abroad to experience other cultures and ways of life. This is why I am bringing him along this summer. I think Jahlyn says it best: “The opportunity to go to a wonderful place like Mexico is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Some of the benefits include being able to interact with other cultures that I rarely have chances to encounter in the city of Memphis. This will not only fulfill my goal of helping the world not only by local means but globally, but it will also give me the chance to go abroad, which is where I want to study when I am ready to attend college. In addition, this chance to go on a trip to Mexico lends me a great opportunity to brighten hundreds, maybe even thousands, of lives that need someone to come and help them. The changing of a person’s mood based on the few actions that I take will cause me to become extremely happy; likewise, I want to know that in my life I had the opportunity to do something for my global community, and I took advantage, supplying for those less fortunate than me in the most efficient way that I could. In the end, I want to go to Mexico because in order to know that I have helped not only myself in life, I need to do everything in my power to show people that they are loved and cared for.”

This summer is going to be such a beautiful collision of cultures. I am excited about having the Lord continue to teach me about Him through others. I would love some help in getting Jahlyn to Mexico. The overall cost of his trip is $1,500. I’ve already gotten his plane ticket and passport. He will be going to matter what, but it would be helpful to minimize expenses. If you can support, Jahlyn and I would be very grateful. Whether or not you are able to support financially, please and more importantly be praying for our preparations and time in Mexico. Pray specifically for Jahlyn’s heart, that he might know the Lord and His grace; for the people we will be serving, all those we interact with; for the safety and health of the team; and for me, that I may love Jahlyn and others well as I also learn what the Lord has in store for me.

If you would like to help support Jahlyn, you can make a check payable to: The Smile Foundation.  Put Jahlyn in the memo line.

Checks can be sent to:

Cullen Johnson

1879 Felix Ave.

Memphis, TN 38114

It is because of your continued love and support of me, I have been able to live life with people like Jahlyn.

Why I Am STILL Teaching

After my second year of teaching, I sat down to re-create my vision; two years of teaching had taught me a few things, and while the reason why I taught had not so much changed, it certainly had evolved. The evolution had been gradual, and it grew every single day as I interacted, educated, and learned from each and every one of my students. As I transitioned from being a middle school science teacher to a high school chemistry teacher, I thought about the unique opportunity I was given to teach several of my previous students again. I thought about how much I wanted to teach them Chemistry so that they would be prepared for their other high school and college science classes. But even more than preparing them academically for their future, I thought about how much I wanted to shape these young men and young women into people of strong character. I teach because of my students. I teach to push them to their ultimate potential, not just as learners, but also as contributors to society. With an excellent teacher, there is no doubt that all of my students will achieve great things. They need to be pushed to reach their ultimate potential. I am confident that this will have them on a successful life path.

When I think about why I teach, hundreds of faces rush through my head, each face with its own unique story. Statistics were the reason that I decided to teach in inner-city Memphis; now those statistics have names, faces and stories. I have over 300 reasons to continue teaching, and that number will grow until all students have access to the education they deserve. I know that each one of my scholars is as capable of succeeding as those students who are statistically advantaged because of their zip codes. I have seen it in their determination and drive, and I have seen their mindsets transform from “I can’t do this,” to “I can.” All it takes is someone who believes in them and never gives up on them. I teach because my students are the future, and they deserve an educator who is going to fight against the statistics by pushing them to reach their ultimate potential, not someone who is going to sit back and allow one of the greatest social injustices of our time to occur.

I teach so that Marcellus can understand the importance of homework and that responsibility at school translates to responsibility as an adult thriving in the real world.

I teach so that Darnell will not have to wait until the beginning of the month to have food in his fridge for the rest of his life.

I teach so that Taliya knows and believes that she is capable.

I teach so that B.J. and Terrence will understand that discipline and self-control help them accomplish their goals.

I teach because Jeremiah gave me hope when he began to not use his unfortunate childhood as an excuse, but as a motivator.

I teach so that Calvin will have someone who believes in him and will show him how to channel his energy towards something positive.

I teach so that Courtney will do scientific research at Yale University to prepare her for a future in the science field, as the first person in her family to go to college.

I teach so that DonTerrius knows that his mistakes can make him stronger and that those mistakes do not have to be repeated.

I teach so that Kupcake can understand that, even if she doesn’t like a class, it is still important for her to work hard.

I teach so that Dezmon can better understand what it means to be respectful, so he can achieve the “greatness” he believes he is destined for.

I teach because Jahlyn does his homework in a closet to get away from the noise of his overcrowded apartment, and I know he deserves better than that.

I teach so that Kyre can overcome arrogance and realize his true intellectual talent.

I teach because my students at Power Center Academy are proving those who believe in statistics wrong. They give me the realization that statistics do not determine futures; individuals do.

I teach because this list could go on and on and on, as I share a portion of each of my student’s unique stories.

I teach because all of my students are capable. I teach because I am confident that my students will be successful. I do not teach because I possess any extraordinary talent that makes me exceptionally qualified to teach; I teach because of them.