YOUNG GIRLS GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON EDUCATION

I live in an apartment complex that is in a good neighborhood. I have been living here three years, and today, I interviewed my neighbors, Kami, age 9, and her sister, Kharis, age 13, with their Mother’s permission. Their Mother, Diana, told me she tells her daughters how important education is.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: Do you believe education is the key out of poverty?
KAMI: Yes.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: What is your age?
KAMI: I am 9 years old.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: What is your favorite subject in school?
KAMI: Math is my favorite subject.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: Why is Math your favorite subject?
KAMI: I get to use the steps of how to multiply and divide, and I can get a good education.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: Do you have a favorite teacher?
KAMI: My favorite teacher is Ms. Sasha Patton.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: Why is Ms. Sasha Patton your favorite teacher?
KAMI: Ms. Sasha Patton is my favorite teacher because she doesn’t bug me a lot. She lets us have more free time than usual.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: What do you want to be when you grow up?
KAMI: I want to be a veterinarian.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: Why do you want to be a veterinarian?
KAMI: I want to be a veterinarian because I can help pets that need help and are dying.

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SPANISH-AMIGA$$: Do you believe education is the key out of poverty?
KHARIS: I do because it’s a way to make money, get a good job, and have a place to live.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: What is your age?
KHARIS: I am 13.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: What is your favorite subject in school?
KHARIS: Science. I like science because my teacher knows what he is talking about. He knows what’s going on. It’s easy to understand him. My teacher’s name is Richard Duran.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: Do you have a favorite teacher?
KHARIS: My favorite teacher is Ms. Steuart.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: Why is Ms. Steuart your favorite teacher?
KHARIS: Ms. Steuart is my favorite teacher because it’s easy to understand her. She lets us read, and I like to read.

SPANISH-AMIGA$$: What do you want to be when you grow up?
KHARIS: When I grow up, I want to be a singer because it’s an easy job.

I am glad Kami and Kharis Mother, Diana, instills in them at an early age that you need a good education to have nice things in life. Diana said she would support her daughters as adults as long as they went to college. That sounds like a winning plan to me. One day as I was going to work, Kami came out of the house with her hood off. It was cold. I said, "Put that hood on." She put on her hood and kept walking to the bus stop. I told her mom, Diana, as we talked after the interview. Kami's mom said, "That's right." We both laughed. Until my next great interview, dream big because dreaming is free! Spanish-Amiga$$

WORKS CITED

Sims, Kami and Kharis. Saturday, March 6, 2010. Personal interview at our apartment complex with their mom’s permission, Diana Sims.