YATW Blog #3: A Step Towards Change

Hello everyone, I am Pedro Castillo and I am back for my third and final YATW blog post. In my last two blog posts ( blog 1, blog 2) I took you into the deep “adventure” (more of a struggle) of the Philadelphia budget cuts and how their effect has taken art from students in certain schools. I talked about how they have saddened students and how money that could have been used education was used for funding prisons. From my last blog to this one, there have been a couple instances where these budget cuts have damaged kids permanently. There has been two children who have even lost their lives because of the lack of nurses because of the budget cuts (Rest in peace to both). Although these budget cuts have affected our city greatly, this final blog is a step towards change. 

In my time away from writing these blogs, I have had the opportunity to witness protests and acts against these budget cuts. I feel as if these things could go along way even if it seems as if they not be doing anything. Simple protests and events could be the things that Philadelphia students need to receive a full learning experience. 

In my time away I have been working as hard as I could to try and “spread the art” to my old schools. I have gone forth with creating my art magazine that I talked about in my last blog post and students seemed to have like it. I created copies of my magazine and gave them to classes in the elementary and middle schools in my neighborhood. I even got to take pictures of students enjoying the magazines that I had supplied them with (Below). I felt very good for spreading these magazines. I feel as if I learned that not only the adults have the power to help but everyone has the power to make a change. Although I did do a good job with these magazines, I feel as if I could have done things even greater. There are many things I could have done for example, give magazines to more schools outside of my neighborhood or even give magazines to anyone in the neighborhood.

Although I feel like I could have done more for my city and students in it, I was pleased with the results. I would love to do something like this again because I believe that this experience has made grow, and has gave me and even bigger connection with the city of Philadelphia. And for this I would love to thank my English 9 teacher Ms. Dunn for giving me the chance to do something like this, to make a change. I also want to thank the principle from my old school for helping me spread the magazines that I have created. This experience has made me think of things differently and I would like to say that anyone has the power to make a change, anyone could lend a helping hand no matter how old or young you are or how big or small you are, anyone can help. Goodbye to anyone keeping up with my blog posts and thank you.