American Civil Liberties Union

I recently completed my first semester at Smith College. You might think that I would no longer marvel at the fact that I am a student at Smith, but you’re wrong. Every time I walk into a lecture hall and see a Smith College banner I am amazed and wonder how I got here.

I was educated in the New York City public schools. Every school I attended provided me with a different experience. In elementary school I received a solid education, supplemented with hand games and double-dutch at recess. Junior high, however, was a big change. Suddenly I was a student in a school filled with metal detectors, locked restrooms, an excessive police presence and constant yelling by administrators. The teachers did their best to teach with the resources they had, but it was difficult - our large class sizes often left students without textbooks or chairs. I knew I needed a change for high school so I applied and was accepted to Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) in New York City.