Knowledge is Power

Midterm projects and papers are due shortly and this means that half of the semester at Penn has already passed. How true the saying, "time waits for no person."

It's hard to believe that 4 months have passed since I first moved to Philadelphia. The hot and humid days of summer where I incessantly explored Philadelphia (I love Philly!!) are now long gone. Intense games of Spades at cookouts are now replaced with long days, and even longer nights, in the library where I converse, and sometimes debate, with the words of those whom are shaping my blueprint for improving urban education. While here, I have had the opportunity, vis-à-vis their written words, to converse with people like John Dewey, Geoffrey Canada, Edward Thorndike, Barbara Sizemore, Charles Payne, Kenneth and Mamie Clark, and many other people who have either built the foundation upon which modern urban education rests or those who are currently building upon that foundation.

I have learned a lot since coming here to Penn. I have not only learned from the words of the aforementioned authors, but I have also learned a lot from conversations with my fellow students, and the faculty members here at Penn's GSE whose work is both nationally and internationally respected. I am blessed for having this opportunity to learn from the giants of this field. It is their shoulders, and the shoulders of so many others, upon which I hope to stand while I work towards actualizing the "American Dream" for all our children. While the truth of certain situations may hurt sometimes, it is that truth which facilitates knowledge and knowledge is power, power for the powerless.

My future posts will share some of the things I have learned throughout the week, some of the things that have made me laugh (there have been many and I am sure there will continue to be many), and because I have a platform, maybe some food for thought for the week to follow (why not, right?).

Most importantly though, I remember this time last year trying to figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to do it at. I am a firm believer that one's decisions are only as good as the information with which those decisions are made. To this end, it was hard making certain decisions not knowing anyone who was doing what I was curious about doing and I was thus lacking an "insider's perspective," so to say. Because of this, I avail myself to you if you have any questions about the Education Policy program at Penn, or about Penn's Graduate School of Education, or about Penn, or about the application process, or whatever else you may have a question that needs an answer. Feel free to email me at, myersmi@gse.upenn.edu. If I cannot answer your question, I will find someone who can.

Peace, Love, Weatlh, and Blessings.

-MJMII