My Haitian-American Dream

Today as I sit in a graduate class I realize how closer I am getting to the dream I once had as a child. I, Dominique Jerome a Haitian-American always dreamt of being a teacher at a high school and college level. My love for history has grown each and everyday from the second I started attending primary school. As I sit back and recollect on myself as a maker, I realize without my culture, my motivation, my family and passion I would not be where I am at today. My hopes and dreams are to be an asset to the world of academia whether it’s in the classroom or outside the classroom.

As I recollect on myself as a maker, my passion for education and history has sparked by the aide of my grandfather and mother who were both educators themselves.

My interest in Social Studies spans as far back as I can remember. As a child, I played teacher with my mother’s lesson plan book, chalkboard, and chalk, left over activity sheets from her students and anything else teaching related. My love for teaching Social Studies increased further in high school. I enrolled in debate discussions, analyzing the constitution of the United States. Also, I volunteered to educate children with special needs.

Growing up in both Haiti and United States I have received my fair share of different educational systems and cultural fusion. My upbringing allows me to be open to cultures, new ideas, new ways of learning and teaching and adapting to different surroundings. By continuing my education in a graduate program, I can gain more knowledge and understanding of the historical material and venture out into real world educational experiences.

My overall recollection as a maker is my attitude, passion and drives to be the best Dominique I can be. My purpose in like is to educate people about our history and the making of the world. Without my family or my opportunity to be educated in both Haiti and the United States I do not think I would have this much passion to teach or even to choose this career path. A Haitian proverb that I was told and I used all throughout my life “Fou ou konnen kote ou souti pou konnen kote ou prale” (“You have to know where you come from to know where you want to go”).