BielerThisIBelieve

__**Michael Oatman:**__ I really liked his story. When he was talking about having to let go of the survival methods needed on the street to get that knowledge about things for his future, it made me think about our discussion on having to let something go to learn something else. I thought that it was truly inspiring knowing that someone out there who didn't know anything about grammar could still get something published. I think that this story proves that the academic education you have doesn't have everything to do with being successful. Even before he decided to further his academic education, he was still educated in the sense of being able to survive on the streets. He had the necessary education that he needed to get him to stay alive. Another thing I really agree with is when he mentions how he is still learning and changing. I think that in someone's life education will continue to change and grow, as long as you try to change it, like Michael.

__**Felicia:**__ I think that that girl's nona is a very inspirational woman. She proves that an academic education really means nothing. The things that mattered to her as she got older were the things that she decided to be skilled in. She knows five different languages and hasn't been to one school. This really tells you a lot because I have been educated in school on Spanish and I can only speak a few words. I forget almost everything that I learned and she knows five. People like her will always amaze me because she had the patience to learn what she wanted to learn. This also shows that your past doesn't determine who you are. When she was growing up she had nothing well into her adult years. She was twenty-one before she even came over to America. As you get older, it gets harder to remember things if you don't already know a little something about it. The idea that she started in her twenties is very impressive to me. She didn't let her past inexperiences keep her from experiencing new things.

__**Joseph Laycock:**__ I think that what he is doing is great. There are so many people who wouldn't want to be around students that are "at risk" because they are harder to teach. Also many people are scared of the children in these schools. I think it takes a lot of courage to stand up for what you believe in. He talks about how he is fighting for these kids. I think that this really shows character in a person when they can put others before themselves. I think that this makes him educated because he is willing to take those chances to help students grow while he is growing along with them.