The story of how I met hope
My name is Eva Johnson. I live in South Los Angeles California. I grew up my whole life in a bad neighborhood with a gang on every corner. My Mom and Dad both grew up here, so I've never traveled anywhere else. In my whole life. I am sixteen years old. Sixteen years I've been trapped in this place, but I've got big plans for the futer. I'm going somewhere new, somewhere I can actually live, and be me, but for now, this is my life and my family. Here In South Cernteral California. If I were to speak of any "Dreams" of mine, I'd probably get hurt.. Really hurt, but let's not go there. Now, about school. I go to a place called Warfeild High in South Centeral.
The school isn't called Warfeild for nothing. Here in this school, you get called out for everything. I mean absolutely everything. Especially for what race you were. I myself was a mixed child. My parents had been beaten by gangs for being together, so when I was born, think of how tough I had it. I'm not really a part of a group at my school. If your not a part of a group in that school, your just another dead body. I mean, it sounds really bad saying it but it's true. I've gotten asked before why I don't have any friends. I can't. That's always the problem. I am two different races. Think about it. If I go to one group, I'd be betraying one side of my family and if I went into another group I'd be betraying the other side. I just choose to be by myself. myself. You see, my mom works three jobs just to put food in my mouth and my dad.. Well he's in a better place.
My so called dreams all began in the second semester of school in Warfeild Highschool in South Centeral when my English teacher Mrs. Shullman really connected with us. First semester I was the first one to walk into the class. She was a white lady, brown hair, brown eyes, and an all read suite with pearl earrings. I smiled and said, "Nice earrings" she smiled and said thank you. My comment back, "You might want to take them off before they get snatched off." That pretty smile of hers was gone. As the rest of the students came in the classroom she smiled and said hello. All through the first semester they were wild as usual. Then one day, it got serious. She came into the classroom and quieted us down, actually quieted us down. She said I want each of you, one by one, to come up to this desk and grab a pencil. We did as told, another shocker. She handed out a panflit. She said, this week, were going to watch a movie. During this movie, you will fill out the panflit and turn it in on Friday. After Friday is the ending of the semester. When you come back. We'll have an activity.
So there is was first semester, with only one week of actual class. We all left and when we came back, she was serious. We had an activity. Now, I'm sitting here thinking, This should be easy if were only gonna play games and sit here and talk. I was wrong. There was a huge green line in the middle of the room. She had us devide on each side of the room and said theese are your new family members for the next semester. I saw what she was doing. She had us mixed up. All races, one group. This isn't easy, this lady expects us to work together? Yeah right. She said, "Who remembers the movie we watched?" I, shockingly raised my hand and gave a summary about the movie. The movie talked about peace and all races and all different types of stories. It talked about all of us, someday needing eachother. At the end it gave a quote that inspired me. The quote was "All Races, All Creeds, Same dreams, Same needs." Mrs. Shullman had that quote written on the board. She said, "Class, this semester I'm teaching you one thing. That one thing is Respect." "To get respect", you have to give it. She said "One thing you should know, with Respect, comes hope." " So technically, we're learing two things." That was the lesson she had taught us.
All through the semester we had done exercises and had tests on books and movies that taught us about forgiveness, and loyalty, and things like that. In the end it all came down to respect. We learned that if we want to become a better community, we need to become better people, and accept the people around us, and accept who they are and accept their dreams. We learned who we are with those people. If you ask me, that classroom is a home. Classroom 257 will always be a place in my heart.
