In the journal, "Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics", James Paul Gee states, "A Discourse is a sort of 'identity kit' which comes complete with the appropriate costume and instructions on how to act, talk, and often write, so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize" (3). The way I was raised and the values that were instilled in me created the Discourse that I present to the world. Every aspect of my being, from the languages I speak to the way I dance, I assimilated from my tight-knit family like a rite of passage. My Discourse had everything to do with me being hired at Arc and much more to do with why I am still working there.
Constructing a superb resume and answering the interview questions efficiently got me hired at Arc. The color of my skin, being bilingual, and sharing a culture with the students enabled me to connect to the Latino population quickly. Most importantly, being respectful, understanding, and open minded helped me become successful at my job at Arc.
It is now my fourth year at Mission Bay High School and it is funny to think back at how it was when I first started. I was hired as a Program Leader to coach soccer in the after-school program. Although my resume stated I had years of experience coaching a club team , the reality was that I played recreational soccer on occasion and I had a few YouTube videos on my belt. It was here that I needed to mushfake the Discourse of an experienced coach who knew how to handle a group of teenage boys. For starters, I felt I had to look the part so I bought some Adidas gear and a whistle from the 99cents store. I also started watching more YouTube videos in order to learn some drills. I am still dumbfounded at how none of the kids caught on to my inexperience. I recall staring at my team going in a sequence of circles and thinking to myself that it looked nothing like what I had seen on YouTube.
Nevertheless, it was the bond that I created with that first group of boys that paved the way to more opportunities in the after-school program. My ability to relate to the student population made me an asset to the program and soon after I was running more clubs and participating in adventure trips. The best part of the job is that it actually doesn't feel like a job and I have the privilege of working with amazing students.
 |
| My day 1's |
Presently, I have taken over as the Site Coordinator and I am responsible for every aspect of the after-school program. It is my job to run programming that promotes career awareness, college readiness, and offers enrichment opportunities for all students. It is my responsibility to hire professional staff and independent contractors in order to carry out the best programming possible for my site. I have had to place a great amount of effort into my current Discourse because I represent the school and our program. Although my position has changed, I will always remember where I started and why I continue to do what I do for my students.
(More pictures with the other programs 👇)
 |
| Kayaking adventure trip |
 |
| Field trip to UC Irvine |
 |
| Last year's soccer team |
 |
| Our hip hop dance team at the IMIN Showdown |
 |
| My leadership council (Best one in the after-school programs) |
 |
| Surfing Adventure Trip |
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi there Luis.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog to be really interesting and understandable. I too would've stated in my resume that I had years of experience coaching a soccer club if I had wanted to be a coach that badly. Mushfaking about that part helped you in the long run because you were able to do what you love. To be honest, I probably would've never learned abut your inexperience either since you loved the sport and you coached it with passion. Sometimes we have to fake it a bit to let others see what we want to be. By you stating that in your resume, it gave you more opportunities in life with working with kids and you enjoy doing what you do. Keep up the good work!
- Jenny
Hi Luis, Thank you for your story. I laughed when I read through your preparation for the 1st day. Imaging you were trying to gear up yourself by getting outfits from dollar store and watching youtube videos, I can totally picture how an enthusiasm person you are wanting to look good not only for the first day, but many onward.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that you’ve been able to not only do the job but also do it so well for 4 years and in the meantime going to school -- how do you do that?
I am also very proud of you that you devote so much into young high schoolers. It’s only getting more tough these days for young kids to survive – just by trying to stay healthy at school is difficult, especially when it comes to peer pressure. I wonder how you managed to coach up with your students there?
I love the details about the Adidas gear and the whistle from the 99 cents store. Seriously, it's amazing how this mushfaking episode allowed you to grow into a coach and a mentor and an organizer who advocates for students. You used your identity to connect-- You stated, "The color of my skin, being bilingual, and sharing a culture with the students enabled me to connect to the Latino population quickly." I think those were a part of it, but it was also because you passed on the values you were raised with. Great post.
ReplyDelete