Ethnicity & Race

I am a white female, born and raised in Georgia.  I have southern roots, and I was raised with southern influences.  My ancestry traces back to Georgia on both sides of my family for at least five generations.  Although it is distant, I do have a bit of a mix of English, Scottish, Irish, and some Native American ancestry

Family

Traditions

My family is very close.  My parents have been happily married for almost 26 years.  My sister, who is two years my senior, and I are extremely close to one another and our parents.  We have one family tradition in particular that is fairly unique to us.  My sister married last summer, and she and her husband now live a few miles away.  My family holds family dinner night weekly; family dinner night consists of my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and me having dinner, great conversations, and fun.  We schedule family dinner nights every Wednesday of each week.  If for some reason there is a conflict with Wednesday nights, it is always rescheduled instead of cancelled.  My mom always cooks a spectacular dinner and often prepares some type of appetizer.  This is a family tradition that we all hold very dear, and we intentionally make time in each of our busy schedules to ensure that it happens.  

Family Roles

The family roles that I grew up accustomed to are also the family roles that each of my parents grew up with.  Both of my parents were children of homemaker moms that tended to the house and the children after they returned from school.  Both of their fathers were the sole workers of the household.  The both grew up in southern middle-class homes, where they lived comfortably.  I think that my upbringing is largely a reflection of the upbringing of my parents.  

The family roles in my home were fairly traditional.  My dad works as a computer analyst, and my worked as an accountant, however, after giving birth to my sister, she became a stay-at-home mother.  My dad has worked at the same company since graduating from college, and he is very happy with the work that he does.  My mom has been a homemaker for 23 years, a job that she does wonderfully.  She cooks dinners every night, which are probably a reflection her southern roots as well.  As far as decision making in the home, my parents shared the responsibilities equally, always consulting one another for advice and opinions.  No large decisions are ever made by one of my parents without a previous discussion with one another.  

Beliefs

My family has a strong belief in the impact of family.  We are very connected with one another because of each of our upbringings.  My dad’s family has lived in the same city dating back at least five generations.  Stretching from that time until the present, one road in our town is filled almost completely with the houses of my relatives.  Great aunts and uncles, cousins, and further distanced relations all live within a short distance of each other.  My mom’s family, although not all from the same city, still mostly live within a few hours of one another, and her immediate family lives close in relation to one another.  Because both sides of the family are local, it’s very easy to spend time together, have frequent contact with one another, and be involved in each other’s lives.  The importance of family was instilled in my parents growing up, and it is a quality that has been well received by my sister and me.

Values

Religion

I have Christian religious beliefs.  I grew up in a Baptist church.  Particularly as a little girl, church was one of the most important aspects of my life.  My family and I attended church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night.  We were always very plugged in to our church and involved in all activities.  Many of my close childhood friendships were established in church and Sunday school.  Prayers were always said before meals and at bedtime, and discussions about religion, beliefs, and God have never been uncommon.  

Morals

I like to think that I have a high moral compass.  I distinctly remember being taught lessons, some intentionally, and some as a result of circumstances, about behaving in right and decent ways.  I grew up hearing many of the known phrases like “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” “kill them with kindness,” and “be kind to your neighbor.”  My parents were sure to have discussions about honesty and fairness.  I try to live my life as an example and as a product of the way I was taught because the lessons I learned as a child are what I have known as “right” for all of my life.  

Work Ethic Beliefs

A hard work ethic is something I truly believe in and an idea that was instilled in me.  My parents taught me that people don’t receive things in life unless they work for them.  This lesson started as a child, as I had a few chores to complete around the house.  I was always responsible for cleaning my own room, making my bed daily, and trying my best on all schoolwork.  Although I didn’t always love learning that hard work ethic as a child, it’s something I’m especially grateful for today.  In fact, a hard work ethic is an idea I strive to instill in my students, and I know I will one day stress to children of my own.  

Beliefs on Education

Having an education and valuing education was one of the very most important ideas my parents taught me.  Although I was involved in many extracurricular activities, it was always clear that school came before anything else.  Homework was completed as soon as I got home from school, and in elementary school, my mom would check over the work I completed. As I moved into middle and high school and assumed the responsibility of those things, my parents would still ensure that my work was done.  They also made certain that I had sufficiently studied for tests.  When asked, they would quiz me over the material I had learned or provide assistance in any way that they could.  The standards were quite high in my house for education, in terms of grades and effort, but I’m aware that I owe much of my accomplishments to my parents confirming I was only doing my best.  My parents also made certain that I could attend college without the burden of those finances.  They underwent sacrifices of their own so that my time at school could be about receiving an education.  As a graduate student, although I’m now financially independent, my parents fully support my goal of continuing my education.  

As a teacher, I clearly hold education in the highest of regards.  I believe that every child and adult should work hard to gain an education for themselves.  I teach the importance of an education to my students, and I explain to them why an education is beneficial to them now and in their futures.  Education is the root for all things, in my opinion, and I want the best for all of my students.  I hope by holding high educational standards, and working to instill a love of learning and urgency for education, my students will develop a desire to always work towards their education.

Assumptions & Stereotypes

I have grown up in a white, middle-class, suburban family.  The majority of the people that I went to school with had a similar culture, and I didn’t have to look far to find peers similar to myself.  I wouldn’t argue that my family meets the middle-class stereotypes fairly easily.  Living comfortably was never an issue.  My family was able to indulge in nice or expensive things when we wanted to, but that wasn’t always the norm.  

My family has also lived in Georgia as far back as I could trace my family tree.  It’s a family assumption in my family that the children will continue to live in Georgia and close to one another.  Because we all live close in proximity, it joins us together in many other ways that the family undoubtedly wants to continue.  Moving far away is an option that is never greatly entertained by family members. 

Family Tree

All 5 generations have lived in Georgia.  They have English, Scottish, Irish, and some Native American ancestry.  It is not known how they came to live in Georgia and settled.  

For at least five generations on the Hull side of the family, my relatives lived in either Conyers or Covington, Georgia.  For at least five generations on the Danforth side of the family, my relatives have lived in Georgia, but they were more spread out as a whole.