Gabriel Benavides:  

A Portion of Life Narrative of Gabriel R. Benavides When was it that I decided to become a teacher? Certainly in the process of interview and conversation with a College Councilor, questions are asked. What degree are you pursuing, what are your intentions? I would have to say that in that instance in that moment I decided to become a teacher. Still, my answer came with very little thought and examination. I am 42 years old currently, my commencement in this journey began when I was 39, this late start by and by as I will endeavor to explain the circumstance that lead to this, yet another journey, and I have to say it has been quite an adventure. To paint a picture of relevance first I must say I was not one of those who journeyed into the world full of vigor and ideas that the world has waiting for, and all one must do is take it. Hind sight is of course 20/20 and by no means am I saying that this is not true to a few of those souls that come from nothing and create for themselves greatness; those however, are the exception. Wisdom says that nothing comes from nothing. I would have to say that I was not one with much wisdom, life would certainly be very different if on the course of my path to this point, had somewhere along a mentor or person who understood my path ahead of me had justly guided me in a particular direction to undertake. I am of Hispanic culture, with this I believe explains a great deal. Currently I am a senior in level of education and ready to graduate by December 2009. To me as I see it, experience and education is that which drives me. The process of becoming an educator is comparatively the same as acquiring a degree for any other professional occupation. In my first two years of college I was perplexed by this, my professional time up to this point has been a pursuit to be a master of all things that deal with your profession, and not just one subject. Once I stared to study the different aspects and genres of English, and literature I began to see that, indeed there are many ways to study and not just simply one subject mastery as I previously thought. One of the problems is that should one decide to go in a different direction and not teach, this possesses a major problem, because the course work required is strictly streamlined to obtaining this degree even to the subject that you want to teach. Another is that the career is dominated by women, as it stands women are paid less for the same requirements as those held by a dominant male occupation. This can be something to think about; however, in scheme of participating in the work-force, my personal feeling in the matter is that pay and status is a secondary effect of doing what you love. Success to me is doing something that I would do even if I were not paid. The pay and such is a byproduct of the action. Since my announcement to my family and friends of my planning to study English, I have received many comments on the nobility of being a teacher, most of all the praise of student teachers, teachers and those who just wish the best. Indeed, I am not in search of approval or recognition in any form or another. As stated previous my motivation is one that grew and manifested itself in me through time, although I have been a teacher to many in the past, the thought of becoming a professional teacher was not in my goals. Perhaps, one outcome may be that I was not born to become a teacher but by circumstance was made into one. Thinking of the processes that betook to my becoming a teacher, as it stands I have been roaming this land and sea for some 42 years and with it come many thoughts and memories, bitter-sweet, and with emotion, not all deep or filled with sorrow, but a mix of all sorts as one who would expect of a man approaching his mid life, I sit in a small apartment with artificial lighting and air-conditioning and a small candle in its transparent cup, flickering light not worth using as a source of light but the flame is soothing and its¿ fragrance gratifying, the outside light is obscured by vertical blinds. The wind is blowing so it may be heard against the outer walls of the building and in the trees blue-jays, sparrows, and crows, sing to each other as it is spring and the act of searching for food and nesting materials continue. The morning passes rather quickly and as afternoon approaches the laughter of some of the young children are heard. This brings an obscure thought of a time when I was but 15 years old, during spring I was invited to spend some time at my cousins house in Corpus Christi, Texas, generally I would have objected to this as I was fond of the outdoors and sought to spend as much time as possible out of doors and knew that my cousins were not the out door types. This came with out objection from my mother as she was rather young her self and delighted in her time of solitude, as it was not often at her disposal. I went to my cousins home and found that I did not miss being outside one bit, when I was introduced to Shereen, I instantly fell in love with her. She was of the same age as I was, and beautiful, we became very close and to date we are still close although our lives have since changed significantly. We discussed many subjects but one stands out, she asked, ¿what are you going to do after high school?¿ And added that she was going to college to be a teacher, ¿I am going to be a U.S. Marine¿ I replied. Later after high school she continued on to college and became a teacher, while I enlisted into the Marines and went of to war, she kept in touch and sent many letters that I must say were God sent. I am grateful to her because had she not been of moral standing and a true friend I believe we would not have had this lasting friendship, as God knows as a young man as I was, my thoughts were not always of Gentlemanly goodness and allot of my life would have been so very different, all the time she wrote to me while at war; was immeasurable to my keeping steady in my aptitude in the business of being a Marine. To give credit where credit is due, latter in my career as a Marine and some promotions later, I found that I received much support from my wife, Minga; I had been, until she came into my life, following a path in the dark, with out guidance or support. Often when I had doubt in my abilities, she would offer assurance, this was with out question extremely helpful, not only in building my confidence but gave me motivation to try harder, and in the end made me an expert on subjects that I was to teach to other Marines. In current time I have been evaluating who I am, where do I come from, and what it means to be here. I am the thirteenth generation of Don Francisco Baez De-Benavides who was born in the Canary Isles in 1592 and Came to New Spain in the Americas and married Dona Isabelle, he was a Captain of the Spanish Royal Court, lived his life and passed away in 1666. In the late 1800¿s another Gentleman descendant of the former and of the same Sir name, upon his death left his wealth to be used for the education of women, he believed that through intelligent women the family would be strong, and having children that would grow up themselves to form strong intelligent families. Just a few years ago my father Don Javier Benavides built a church in a desolate and poor neighborhood in the suburbs of Nuevo Laredo Mexico. He believes that because he was blessed, he desired to enrich a community with the establishment of local focal point in the form of a Church where baptismal, weddings, and worship can take place. My aunt Dona Maricella Benavides younger sister of my Father, at a very young age of 18 started a school and taught English for students in Laredo Mexico. Upon her tragic untimely death in her mid twenties, lost to Cancer; her younger sister Dona Elva Benavides De San Miguel once graduated from College re-established the school with her husband Don Chema Maria San Miguel, and from a meager start, they to-date have a college preparatory private school with over 500 students and 27 teachers. I do not think of my self as one who is destined to greatness as those few in my family past and present, but to deny this tradition of strong familial custom and culture is not something that I can dismiss; only the future can tell. I continue in thought sitting in the back yard at my sister Emilia¿s home, cold and in a trance like state, looking at a distant red light perched on top of a tall high power line pole signaling to all who pass in flight to and fro the international airport in San Antonio, many thoughts come and go as I go over my life. The trees are filled with life; song birds come and go, singing to one another in preparation of their nesting. Squirrels scurry from gathering nuts and evading the domestic animal, the family cat Fat Lewis, keeps a sharp eye out for pray that may come with in striking distance, all the wile in-turn, keeping a watchful eye on the dogs on the other side of the fence that wish to take him as pray as well. I think to my self what misery, how sad am I, my hear aches with despair and humility. What has passed to my current circumstance is painful and disheartening. I have had quite a past, some...Expand for more