Excerpted from a speech written by NYC Outward Bound Schools student Natalia Gonzalez for our 2017 gala
My name is Natalia Gonzalez, and I’m a senior at Gaynor McCown. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” Throughout my academic career I have attempted to live by his words.
Natalia Gonzalez
I love to learn and am a passionate student because I don’t simply wish to receive an education but earn one that will both help me succeed in my field of study and make me a better person. Luckily I have had teachers who truly love to teach and love to watch students grow both academically and personally.
Although I have always been regarded as an exceptional student, I truly believe that the amazing teachers that I have had at my NYC Outward Bound School, who constantly challenge and support my peers and me, have made me the driven student I am today.
For example, my Economics teacher not only teaches us how to be financially literate and how to manage our money, but also how to be independent, because we are now young adults and will be going to college soon. Learning to be independent and self reliant is something I’ve always struggled with but after taking this course I’ve learned that making tough decisions is a part of growing up.
In my junior year, I took AP Spanish. My teacher not only helped me become a fluent speaker, but also taught me to fully appreciate my family’s culture, including the language. She knew that as a young Hispanic woman born in the US, language would be an important link to my heritage, and she encouraged me to embrace it.
I also took Participation in Government earlier this year. Discussing real-world issues, such as the presidential election or the cost of wars, and its application to our lives during class is a prime example of how my teacher proved that education directly relates to a student’s life outside of the classroom. I could tell that my teacher truly enjoyed helping his students understand the functions of government and how we all have a voice and can both support and challenge our politicians.
In fact, after taking this course and talking to my teacher, I’ve decided to study political science at Baruch College. And I hope to someday become a congresswoman, senator, or even president. My teachers have helped me realize that I can accomplish much more than I ever thought possible.
Passionate students like myself are the result of teachers willing to go the “extra mile” for their students; teachers who are willing prepare to their students for more than just the test; prepare them for the college and to be leaders and innovators in their respective fields.