It was overcast Sunday morning, but the Rising Moment varsity presenters shined bright. The day began with a presentation by Astro Castro whose rockstar name mirrors his passion for popstars. Astro’s rising moment stems from the attention his AVID teacher, Mr. Hubert, provided. Mr. Hubert listened to Astro, shared his passions, showed him how to channel his emotions, and allowed him to maximize his critical thinking skills.
Kiara Laweka began her speech with a Zuni rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance, which effectively conveyed the alienation she felt as a non-English speaker struggling to interact in an English-speaking classroom. Kiara detailed her trepidation to speak and be heard as she learned a new language and the disconnect she felt as a student with a language barrier. Her rising moment was when her teacher Mr. Chimani connected with her by speaking Zuni. These experiences inspired Kiara to one day teach a Zuni language class in New Mexico.
Freya Pinkney’s rising moment didn’t come from a teacher, but from a curious boy she babysat who asked her why the sky is blue. It was this inquiry that helped her answer the question of what she wants to do when she grows up. Freya realized that she didn’t know why the sky was blue, but she did know that her teachers have encouraged curiosity and shown her that asking questions isn’t a weakness—it’s the engine of growth we need in our lives. Freya believes that lesson plans are secondary to the human being sitting behind the desk and that teaching isn’t just about answering simple questions but holding space for the hard ones.
Jocelyn Shaw dove right into a pool of aquatic puns and metaphors that gave her speech a clever motif that was original and entertaining. Jocelyn’s humor balanced the sadness of her presentation, which centered on the loss of her mother at the age of 12. Her mother and grandfather were both teachers, and when Jocelyn told her mother she wanted to be a teacher, her mother hugged her and cried tears of joy. Jocelyn’s love for teaching has been fostered by her work as swimming instructor at the YMCA. Jocelyn wants to teach to make sure the next generation doesn’t just drift—they swim towards a better, brighter future.
