Mercer University OlaOcha O. Chinue talks with Emily Colon a MU student being a single parent and pursuing a path as an educator

00:03 Hey, how we doing today?

00:04 I'm doing wonderful. What about yourself?

00:06 I'm doing pretty good. Can you introduce yourself?

00:10 So, my name is Emily Colón I am a single mother, and I currently am working at a public school. I was working with kindergarten, but now I'm with special education from k to first grade, and that's my new position. And I've been with kindergarten for, like, two to three years. So this new position is new to me. I actually love it, and I. I like it. It's different. It's new, but I like it. So that's more about me.

00:47 That was up. That was. Well, Emily, can you tell me what. What originally sparked your passion about teaching? And was there a standout moment that inspired you?

01:00 So I'm gonna talk about what made me become an educator. So, in high school, I did kind of struggle in a couple of subjects, but I always had this one teacher. Her name was Missy. She guided me through my whole, like, high school year from, like, 9th to, like, 12th grade. She always would help me if I needed anything. She was always there if I needed to stay at the school to, like, finish a project or homework, you know, she was always there. She took her job seriously, and she never told me, no, I'm not, you know, I'm too busy. It was always, yes, Emily, I could help you. Meet me here. Meet me there. She really influenced me to become this teacher because she never gave up on me. And, like, even when I failed one of the. I think I felt like two of the graduation tests. Remember when we had to take graduation tests to pass? I had to. I felt like two of them. And I ran in her room, and I was, like, crying. I'm like, oh, my gosh. I can't believe I failed. And she was just like, emily, it's okay. You know, everybody, you know, always fail. Just go. Go to the summer school. Do what you have to do. And she kind of made, you know, she uplifted me, and she kind of made me realize, he's really on my side.

02:25 Right?

02:25 And then she told me, do not give up. Just keep on trying. So I went to summer school, and I did the two graduation tests, and I actually passed them. So I called her, and she was like, you see, I told you, don't never give up. You know, I'm here and all that. So she was really a big part of my life for high school. So that kind of, like, sparked me into becoming a teacher. I did work at a daycare first, and then I was just like, oh, let me do public school, and I got into public school, and ever since then, like, I'm in love. Like, I love kids, and that's my passion. So I just want, you know, how she motivated me. I want to motivate other kids like that.

03:12 So kudos to the educators and brought that spark to your life, and now you bring in sparks to other little ones lives. I like that.

03:20 Yes.

03:22 Fantastic. As a woman of color, specifically, what unique perspective do you bring into the classroom?

03:29 So, you know, I can recognize, like, experience. So basically, from experience, basically just connecting with the classroom. I know sometimes the school I go to, it's really diverse, from african american to hispanic. We don't really have a lot of, you know, caucasian people in there, but it's like a limited. So, you know, like, right now is hispanic month. So what we try to do is try to involve that in, you know, our school, letting them know the culture, different cultures, letting them know the backgrounds of everybody, because everybody have a different background. So we try to recognize every different color students, you know, every background they come from, the history, are they? So we try to involve that, and then we try to talk about it during a lesson, get a little project. So we try to just recognize everything. So me being a color person, I go to all black school. We try to mix all that into it so, you know, everybody will feel like, oh, wow. Like, this is amazing to learn a different culture. And what my school does is, like, they're like. Like I said, for hispanic month, we did a display for different, like, Mexico, Puerto Rico. What? Gwana. I think the other hispanic places, there's a lot of hispanic, I can't think, but we try to display them so, you know, everybody could see and see how diverse we are, and then we do a thing like where we tell them to bring their food, and then we try their food out. So it's a big thing for me, being a colored person, so I kind of like it.

05:21 That's pretty cool. I would imagine that your own experience help you connect with the children, considering that, you know, is predominantly a black school.

05:31 Yeah, it is. And it's a lot of hispanic, so it's kind of just. It's different culture. Yeah. And then we try to do the morning announcement in Spanish, too, just so we can mix it up.

05:45 Just so you can mix it up. Okay.

05:47 So it's very interesting. And, I mean, I like it. It teaches other students, like, hey, there's different people out there. You not just, you know, I love the inclusion.

05:57 I love that, for sure.

05:59 Yeah.

06:00 No doubt that you'll be in a role model for many kids. Switching gears, we all know teaching can be tough. What challenges do you expect as a new teacher, and how will you tackle them head on?

06:14 Okay, so I'm not a teacher right now, but. Right. I'm just the assistant, a para. But being in a different. I was so used to kindergarten, but now I'm in. Now I'm in a. In special education. So I work with the special education. I don't work with the kids that have, like, issues. I work with the kids that have behavioral issues. That is a big challenge because I still find them as sweet as ever. Like, they might have they issues, but they have a. They have. It's something about them that, yeah, they might have anger management. Yeah, they might have an outburst. But there are very loving and just coming into a new setting of that. I had learned, like, every kid, like, we have four. Like, I think we have five kids in our classroom, and I know there's one that he just magically, like, just go. You know, he just go. Like, he just gets mad, and we don't know what triggers him, but just. Just watching him, he is very loving and caring. And when I tell you, it's like, it's a challenge because we don't know what trigger him, so we try to avoid that trigger with him by just loving on them. So I feel like, you know, if I, you know, after I finish my bachelor's and, you know, I would want to go into that because a lot of people don't like that field, and a lot of people are not interested in that field. But as being new to it and being assistant, I kind of sit back and observe every child's IEP to see what triggers them, to see how we could fix it, to see how they could control it and different techniques. So it's a challenge because you don't know all the kids behavior. You don't know what triggers them. But if you sit there and you learn them and you observe them from afar, and then you get to, like, tackle each and every one of them differently, you start learning them, and you start learning what that, you know, what triggers them. You start learning what calms them down, you start learning what loves them. Like, some of them don't get, like, hugs, and, you know, don't get loved on. So you, like, like me, I love to love on my kids. So giving them that hug, they would ask me, Miss Colón can I give you a hug? And I'm like, yeah, anytime. Like, I don't care. Just hug me. So you don't know. They might not be getting hugs at home. You know, this is different. It's challenging coming into this new position. I love it, and I wish to grow more and then, you know, just continue with it. So let's see how it goes. Right.

09:01 So that was so bad. And, you know, I enjoy hearing about, you know, you working with the behavioral, you know, kids and be able to, you know, like I said, be a spark in their life. And, you know, I know they say call you a parapro, but, you know, you're definitely an educator.

09:20 So, yeah, that's one thing about people that don't understand that even though we're just assistant, we're still teachers because we still get that teacher privilege.

09:31 For sure. For sure. Most definitely, like, getting all the stress of it. And, you know, I just feel like I wouldn't be doing you justice by saying that you wasn't an educator or a teacher.

09:45 Mm hmm. Even though we have a lead, I feel like each and every, because we have three people in our classroom, my lead and in two parents. And I feel like all of us being there, we're all a team. We're all teachers. We don't give each other a title. We're just teachers. We're in that classroom. So, like I said, people will be like, oh, you just a para. But you got to understand, parents put as much work as teachers.

10:13 So the switch gears a little bit. You know, I know you were speaking about how you being a single mother and whatnot, and also I was wondering, how are you balancing your work life balance and self care?

10:30 Okay, so who. That's just a rough. So, anyways, I had to get used to trying to balance all three. Now, this is new. This is another new thing coming. Going back to school. Haven't been in school for five years, so changing positions, being a single mother, and going back to school, starting when we started school, you know, it was a challenging because I just took my son out the school with me. He was going to school with me, so I had to make sure I could balance him going to a different school, me in this new position, and then going back to school and then also taking care of myself. So basically, I started back working out. So that's my self care. You know, I try to do that at least two times a week. So I try to just do that, and I try to, like, you know, work. You know, do the work. I try to do work. After I do my work, I would go and just do my homework, and then I'll go just work out just to release some stress.

11:41 So get that this physical workout in and get some of those, that blood flowing. I can understand that for sure.

11:50 Yeah. So I, and then also scheduling, I try to schedule, I try to keep my schedule on point. So if you don't have scheduling and you fall off your schedule, it kind of fall you like, you kind of falling back. So I try to be able to schedule everything one by one, and I try to jot it down and make sure that, hey, this is what I'm doing for this whole week, make sure my schedule is perfect. If I'm off task, I try to put myself back on task on scheduling so I won't fall off. So if you don't have a schedule, a basic schedule, and if you don't schedule, you, like, have a schedule to make sure you're on task, it kind of sets you back. So I try to tell people to stay on scheduling and just follow that schedule.

12:43 Well said. Well said. What they say, work hard, play hard. You know, so a little bit of daydreaming, like, fast forward five years from now, what accompaniment do you plan on achieving within the next five years?

12:59 So my accomplishment is to finish school. That's one. Get my bachelor's and I, we want to be a teacher, so I'm trying to see if I'm gonna do that in, like, two or three years. Do that for like, you know, like I said, two or three years and try to do something else in the educational field because there's a lot of things you could do in the education. So I just, I could sit in the classroom or I could get out the classroom. So there's a lot of stuff that I would be interested in doing. And actually, I would love to own my own daycare and I, so that will be in the working process as well in five years. So hopefully I can have that up and running and having my own daycare and then try to have a couple of more after I have that one.

13:51 I can definitely see you working in that space.

13:55 So, yeah, I mean, I love kids and I feel like, you know, coming from school and having my bachelor, they will see like, oh, so she, you know, she has her bachelor's. You know, let me take, you know, let me, let me see what this school is about. So, you know, I want to get, that's why I'm working towards my bachelor's. So I could go ahead and just move forward with opening a daycare and then opening a daycare and then being a teacher as well. So that's my balance right there.

14:23 Well, you definitely have the passion for it, so I don't see no reason why you can't make it happen.

14:28 Thank you. Thank you. I'm gonna make it happen. It's gonna happen.

14:32 Right? Right. I love that vision. To make it a reality. Connecting with students is so important. How will you really get to know them? And making learning relevant.

14:44 So getting to learn them, like I said, knowing what triggers them, knowing what makes them happy. So that's how I will get to know them. Like, these past, you know, we started school in August. I didn't know these kids. I used to see them in the hallway, but now that I'm with them and it's September, it's like, I know, you know, it's like I'm getting to know them even more. And every time I get to know them, it's like I learned something new, right? So. And then learning. I have two. It's like I said, it's kindergarten to second grade. I have two second grade that are just, you know, when we go into learning mode, when we do math, reading, they're on it. They're like, on it. And then I have one first grade. Even though he need guidance and assistance, I still try to work with him and give him that teacher assistant, and even though he don't like to, he would be like, no, I don't want to do my work. I'd be like, okay, let's do your work. Let's try to do at least two pages, because those are kids. You don't want to keep forcing so much work on them. They always need a break. So telling him, hey, let's do two pages. He'll be like, okay. And even though he don't know how to write and all that, I still give him that guidance, and he will be happy. Like, he'll be like, okay, I'm done. Can I go to the library now? And I'm like, yeah, let's go. That's your treat. So just getting him to do that work and learning how what he likes is most importantly, like, big to me. So I kind of like that. Like, he's been doing his work all week, so we're trying to stay on that schedule all week because it was a challenge to. For him to get his work, because, like I said, he would trigger, like, it will trigger him. Like, okay, let's do your work. He'd be like, no, but seeing what he likes, I would be like, let's do a page. Let's do another page. And that's it. You don't want to keep forcing kids to do so much because that's when they. Oh, my gosh, I can't breathe. I need a break. Da da da da ness when they start getting upset. So it's important to just learn them, see what they like, what they could do, and how many they could fit in that process. So I love it. It's new to me. I like it. It's a challenging, and I think. I think I'm happy where I'm at, so.

17:09 Yeah, well, I can most definitely say you're a national at this. Like, I'm telling you, your passion, you know, speak some more in volumes, you know, just in this interview that we know we're doing right now. And, you know, I love educators, you know, especially my mom, you know, being a teacher. So I can definitely tell that you will have an impact on people's lives, for sure. But what wisdom would you share with other women of color considering teaching or, you know, looking into getting into that field?

17:43 Okay, so what I would say is that a lot of people be like, oh, y'all don't get paid enough. Da da da, this and that. It's. Honestly, it's not about the pay, but people will think about it. But it's the passion of how you want to teach those kids. Education change. It's not the same how it used to be with us. I feel like you have to have a passion to be in that field because that's when kids start to realize, oh, you're really here to help me. You're not here to, you know, collect the paycheck. You here to help me. So being a woman of color and going telling everybody, if you want to be an educator, make sure you love kids. Like, I seen too many, like, people just go into the field and then they abusing kids and they're hurting. You know, they're. I don't, you know, that. That breaks my heart, because why are you in that field if you're gonna do that? These kids. These kids, fine. These kids are really, like, if you really with them, you know, and you're trying to help them, they're gonna sit down and learn.

19:02 Well, you know, I feel like we've all felt like we've had that teacher who just didn't care as much as maybe the others or, you know, but, you know, the system is set up, structured where the money. It may not meet the passion, I guess, I suppose, after some years. So I can understand that.

19:24 Yeah, I mean, a lot of people leave education because it's like it don't pay enough and it doesn't. But, I mean, if you're just in it because of the kids, just be in it because of the kids. You can make second income. And then they trying to give teachers raises. So, you know.

19:41 Right, right.

19:42 Like, they're trying to see us for who we are. We're basically with your kids 24/7 teaching them. They're basically our second kids. So just, we're with them from, what, seven to three. That's all day, and that's Monday through Friday.

20:01 That's true. That's true.

20:02 So, like I said, if you don't have a passion for it, then don't even try. But, I mean, there's different fields you could do in education, right. But if you don't have a passion to be in a classroom with these kids, you might as well just turn around and do something else.

20:25 That's definitely understandable. You know, with your pastor, you're definitely going to change life with that type of guidance. On a serious note, how would you respond to a potential discrimination in your school? Like, equality is so crucial.

20:41 So I really haven't, like, had a discrimination in school because, like I said, it's all african american school and a hispanic school. So it really haven't been like, oh, you know, this, blacks against white. Like, it never been like that. So, I mean, I never encountered it. I don't want to encounter it. It's basically equal. And like I said, it is mostly african and american school. So I. But I do work with a caucasian lady. She's very sweet. She came from Cobb county, but it's like, we try to tell her how she's so used to Cobb county, and she came to Clayton county. So we try to, like, explain her. Like, this is what we do in Riverdale, like, Clayton county. This is how it is. She be like, this ain't Cobb county. No, it's not Cobb county. This is Clayton county. You. She just got to get used to it because things they, I guess they did at her old school, they don't do here. So she kind of be like. And, you know, dealing with attitudes. Like, she did encounter a couple of attitudes from different people. And I just be telling her, like, hey, let me tell you. Look the other way. If you have any questions, ask me, because I've been here. You know, I know the school.

22:08 Right, right.

22:09 So she kind of just felt, felt like, kind of like, I don't like it. But, you know, I had talked to her and I told her, like, hey, whatever you need let me know. I could get it for you. I could ask and all that. So, you know, just, I guess just for her, coming into a new school is kind of difficult. But when I told her and sat her down, was like, hey, this is all new to you. Let me put you on game. Let me tell you what goes on here. Let me tell you who to talk to, who not to, you know, communicate with, because sometimes they be at ease. So she kind of just, you know, okay, Miss Colón you know, can you help me do this? So it was basically that. But I mean, I never encounter anything like that and I don't want to.

22:53 So, yeah, you know, being black in 2023, you know, it's an interesting, you know, stance. You know, sometimes you come across it, sometimes you don't, and this, you know, it's very much so nuanced. Well, lastly, if you had all your resources needed, what are your dream vision for education future? I was on your dream vision board. What, like, what do you see? You get all that you wanted? I think we kind of briefly touched on that earlier with the opening daycare.

23:38 Yeah, that's my dream vision. Resources. I would like to, you know, try to experience probably like the education, not like in a classroom, but outside a classroom, like in a building, like the higher building. I can't even think of what they call them, people, basically, like the, the educators that help, you know, like the coordinators. Basically the coordinators and that help them and guide them through all that. I would like to experience that as well, you know, just to get a little feeling, you know, how everything works and how everything, how to ballpark work in education. Because like I said, there's so many fields you could go into. So that's basically that.

24:36 And let's see. And what type of support system do you think would be the most helpful for you being a single mother? So during this school situation?

25:06 So basically, I do have a big support system. Thank God, because I know some people don't. You know, just having my son, my parents help me out. I have my parents, I have my cousin and I had my sister and then my other, you know, my son's father's grandparents, they helped me out as well. So like I said, he don't go to school with me anymore. So he got to be at the bus stop at like 645. So I'll get, when I'm done getting dressed, I'll get him up, I'll get him dressed. Then my mom will take him to the bus stop or my dad. So that kind of helps me there, and then on top of that, I'll go pick him up from daycare with his cousin, because that's where he goes after school, so that kind of helps me. Or, you know, me and my cousin switch off. She'll go pick them up, and then I'll go pick them up. And then, like, on this, I don't know if I told you guys, I do have a second job, so, like, on my second job, I do stay all weekend. I'll either keep him at his grandparents house, his and dad's parents house, or, you know, they'll watch him here. So I do have a big support system that will help me out. Even getting schoolwork done, you know, even getting schoolwork done, even going to school, classes online. I do get a lot of help, so I am thankful for that, for sure.

26:34 The support system can sometimes be a key factor in, you know, in success in people's lives. And I'm glad to hear that you got a great support system that's willing to help you out in the journey, because I can tell from just speaking to you that you got some work to do.

26:57 I do. And a lot of people don't have support system. And I'd be like, oh, my gosh, like, how do y'all do anything? Because it's hard out here, right? You know, and I be like, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have a support system.

27:13 You know, I guess what that makes me think of what they say, it wouldn't pit no more than you can handle.

27:20 I know, right? So, like I said, it, having a support system is, like, from doing. Going back to school. Like I said, it's been five years, so going back to school, I didn't think I would be able to do it, but I'm actually doing it. I'm proud of myself, so I'm actually. I'm like, okay, I could do this, and then I could fit a little bit of workout in, and then I could do, you know, all the extra stuff. So, I mean, it's a challenge, but like I said, if you don't have that support system, then I don't know, it's gonna be hard for sure.

27:54 Do you get anything inspirational to say, you know, any words? Any other single mothers out there? All right.

28:08 I would say to keep on trying and to never give up.

28:14 Keep on trying.

28:15 Never give up. Try, even try your best. I know sometimes it might be hard. I know you probably want to cry in the corner sometimes or shed a tear. It's not you could cry, let it out. But once you smile on your face, try harder and go for what you.

28:34 Want, you know, it reminds me of back in bible study. I remember they gave us these little braces. They say what they say, pray until something happens.

28:45 And that's true.

28:47 And, you know, that's what you kind of reminded me of. And I like that mantra. I was definitely an uplifting statement that you said just now.

29:00 It's. I mean, it gets hard, it gets difficult, like I said, but don't give up, because if you find yourself giving up, then it's like, what else can I. There's nothing I could do. Like, I don't believe in myself. And that's what most people, that's what most, like, single parents think of. Like, we can't do it. Yes, we can. Ill challenge, but we can. That's what I'm saying. Go for. And you, you understand, too.

29:28 So, yeah, most definitely. I definitely got my fair share of gray hairs in my early twenties.

29:36 And, I mean, I don't have a partner right now, but I know once that happens, you know, it would be like a weight lifted off my shoulder because now I'm getting that time and he's helping me out. But at this point, like, right now, it's like, it's just me, so I have to learn how to just do it on my own right now.

29:57 So, you know, is definitely gonna be a balance and learning how to, you know, balance those things out. And you know what somebody told me, just remember that you're not the first one to go through this as people done it before you. And I know it sucks sometimes when you hear you be like, dang, what do you mean? I'm not the first one to go through this. I'm not talking about me right now.

30:23 Right.

30:24 But, you know, it's like this is saying there's a silver lining. There's a light at the end of that tunnel.

30:32 I agree. And it's like, you don't never know. You didn't like, I didn't know I was gonna be a single mother. So.

30:40 Believe me, I was looking lost.

30:44 Yeah. So nobody knows what they gonna do in the near future. I didn't know I was gonna be a single mother. But guess what? I'm here. I'm doing what I gotta do. I gotta make it. Or I might cry a little bit, shed a little bit of tears and this and that, but I'm just relieving stress. That's why I go work out, because that's my, that helps me release stress.

31:06 With the old saying, it's not what you, uh, not, it's not when you fall. But you do when you get back up.

31:12 Yep, you fall and you just gotta get right back up. Don't even, don't even sit there. Get right back up.

31:19 You don't get complacent if you sit there. You don't want to cry. When they say, when a toddler, I say, my little girl, she's, when she's about two, two, three years old, she'll sit there, she might, she might stumble and follow and over. If I go rush tour and go like, baby, what's wrong? Oh, she's gonna get the crying. If I sit there and sit there and be quiet like, I ain't see, she gonna sit there and stand back on up, dust herself off and keep on playing.

31:48 And that's what they supposed to do. So, yeah, so I mean, I agree. So just from working, balancing life and school, it's a struggle, but here I am doing it and.

32:07 Well, you're looking like black excellence right now. You're doing the thing.

32:12 Thank you, thank you, thank you. Trying. I'm trying. It's all new to me. So, look, like I said, keep a schedule.

32:21 If you had that schedule, it ain't gonna work out. You gotta have that schedule to stay, you know, especially with the workload and we're balancing life and everything else is like, things begin to blend into one. But like you said, keep that schedule and take the step, take one problem by one problem at a time. You know, you can't, you can't, hey, I can't listen and talk at the same time, just saying no at all.

32:53 So, I mean, it's a blessing. And as I say, just educators have to, like, we waking up early.

33:00 Oh, yeah, sure.

33:03 Yes, we up early. We, we, I mean, we get out early, but I mean, like, we're up early. So we're dealing with kids from seven to three. Attitudes be different from seven to three.

33:14 And there's a special place in heaven for the educators because early mornings, I don't know, there's just a little struggle for me.

33:26 Yeah, up 05:00 in the morning, getting ready, and then you gotta be at school by seven. So I'm like I said, attitudes be different from seven till they change from seven to three. You don't know what you getting. So like I said, kudos to us because they, nobody knows the struggle.

33:46 So big beautiful facts.

33:49 Big beautiful facts. Yes, yes, yes.

33:52 So this has been a very enlightening interview. I've enjoyed interviewing you, Emily.

33:58 Thank you.

33:59 Do you have any closing comments you would like to say?

34:02 No. I greatly appreciate you for interviewing me and, you know, learning my background as a teacher and everything else. This has been a great interview, so I greatly appreciate you.

34:14 No problems at all. Talk to you later, Emily.

34:17 All right. You, too. Bye.

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