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Amanda Ursini

Senior Portfolio Committee

Spring Service Learning, BCOL

28 January 2018

Statement of Future Plans

It seems to every teenager that their life has been leading up to this particular moment-

graduating, and then deciding what the plan for the rest of their life will be. Although daunting, it

is pertinent that one has a plan for what they’re going to do once they exit required education and

have a chance to decide what they want to achieve with their life. Personally, senior year has

always been an accomplishment that I didn’t want to reach, as it would mean considering the

aforementioned notions. However, as time has passed and I have grown, I now realize that

planning out what I hope to do is a frightening yet necessary step in my life. As a result of my

almost four years at Buckingham Charter, I have managed to piece together a collage of what I

hope my future may look like- beginning at a community college, transfering to a four year

university, and teaching English at a high school.

I’d thought about what colleges I would attend when I was just starting out in high

school, but not until sophomore year when I considered the financial responsibility did I think of

attending a community college. It would be easier for me, as I could still live at home and help

my mom while not shelving out the money to stay in a dorm the size of a closet. I have taken

classes at our local community college before, in which I succeeded and learned a lot more about

independent education. The involvement with those classes included driving myself, buying my

own textbooks, and managing my time to study and prepare. I believe that this has helped to

prepare me for when I take more classes there in the future. Another advantage that BCMHS has
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given me was the chance to attend two AP classes, and pass both AP Exams with a score of

three. In effect, I will not have to take the English 1 course offered at Solano Community

College, and I have the state Seal of Biliteracy in both English and Spanish. This will help me in

both my future college classes and life after college.

I believe that I have had relevant experience, both in school and out, that would

contribute to my future in teaching. In early December of 2016, I began working as a teaching

assistant at Kumon Learning Center in Vacaville, CA. My responsibilities there include: helping

kids with math and reading (ages three to fifteen), grading homework, maintaining a quiet

learning environment, dealing with more than one child at a time, and using different methods of

tutoring for children who learn differently. I believe that my work experience, combined with the

myriad of different learning methods that were presented to me at BCMHS will make me a

teacher who will be able to try and help every child. My experience as being biliterate can aid me

in helping students whose second language may be English, as well. I have spoken Spanish to a

few children at Kumon to make their transition into the English language a little easier and less

intimidating. Overall, my experience working with children of all learning types and

backgrounds will help in my endeavor to become a teacher.

One thing that is not present in my academic records but is large part of who I am is the

time that I have spent volunteering for Project Linus. Project Linus is a national nonprofit

organization that donates handmade blankets to children in need. I have been volunteering for

the local Solano County chapter for just over two years now. I have attended almost every

monthly meeting, and have taken on the responsibilities of packaging, delivery, and promotion. I

chose to build Project Linus Solano a website for my service learning project because I truly

believe in the good that they contribute to the community. When my mom was diagnosed with
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stage two breast cancer in November of 2017, each member of my family received handmade

blankets that were personalized towards our interests. My time volunteering for this generous

organization has truly influenced some of my growth as a person, and my capacity to help others

in my community.

Henceforth, my four years of study in high school have prepared me to attend a

community college, transfer to complete my degree, and begin my career as a teacher. This has

led me to attending advanced placement classes, as well as classes at the community college that

I will attend. This, coupled my experience of tutoring children for over a year, will inevitably aid

in my future goals. These past four years have been a challenge that I’d like to say that I’ve

overcome, and prepared me for my next four years of education. As I graduate, both literally and

into a new role in life, I will use the advantages and assets of my high school experience to

further contribute to society and cement my role in it.