A Sermon to the Classroom | Emmanuel Escamilla | TEDxModesto

so currently I’m a graduate student

so currently I’m a graduate student and one of the group one of the degrees

and one of the group one of the degrees

and one of the group one of the degrees that I’m pursuing is a Masters of

that I’m pursuing is a Masters of

that I’m pursuing is a Masters of Divinity so the study of religion and I

Divinity so the study of religion and I

Divinity so the study of religion and I could be honest with you and tell you

could be honest with you and tell you

could be honest with you and tell you that my future career is not being a

that my future career is not being a

that my future career is not being a pastor or being a preacher and when I

pastor or being a preacher and when I

pastor or being a preacher and when I tell that to people who ask me what I’m

tell that to people who ask me what I’m

tell that to people who ask me what I’m studying the response that I get is so

studying the response that I get is so

studying the response that I get is so then why are you studying that and my

then why are you studying that and my

then why are you studying that and my response is well that’s a good question

response is well that’s a good question

response is well that’s a good question but what I found is that the study of

but what I found is that the study of

but what I found is that the study of religion has been fruitful in my life

religion has been fruitful in my life

religion has been fruitful in my life what I’ve learned is that religion is

what I’ve learned is that religion is

what I’ve learned is that religion is purposed in uplifting we see that

purposed in uplifting we see that

purposed in uplifting we see that vividly in the pastors that preach on

vividly in the pastors that preach on

vividly in the pastors that preach on Sundays we see it vividly through other

Sundays we see it vividly through other

Sundays we see it vividly through other ways as well but a sermon is not just a

ways as well but a sermon is not just a

ways as well but a sermon is not just a Sunday preaching a sermon is also

Sunday preaching a sermon is also

Sunday preaching a sermon is also something that takes different forms

something that takes different forms

something that takes different forms like the businessman who gives of his

like the businessman who gives of his

like the businessman who gives of his hard-earned money towards causes in the

hard-earned money towards causes in the

hard-earned money towards causes in the community or the community organizer who

community or the community organizer who

community or the community organizer who gives of their time to invest in

gives of their time to invest in

gives of their time to invest in transforming the community that he lives

transforming the community that he lives

transforming the community that he lives in or the teacher who lays down their

in or the teacher who lays down their

in or the teacher who lays down their life and trust me sometimes in the

life and trust me sometimes in the

life and trust me sometimes in the classroom it actually feels like you’re

classroom it actually feels like you’re

classroom it actually feels like you’re laying down your life so empower

laying down your life so empower

laying down your life so empower students this all of these moments are

students this all of these moments are

students this all of these moments are examples of sermons they’re a moment in

examples of sermons they’re a moment in

examples of sermons they’re a moment in which hope is transferred transferred

which hope is transferred transferred

which hope is transferred transferred from one individual to another now I

from one individual to another now I

from one individual to another now I stand here humbly as a student as an

stand here humbly as a student as an

stand here humbly as a student as an educator and also as a member of this

educator and also as a member of this

educator and also as a member of this wonderful community and I think it’s

wonderful community and I think it’s

wonderful community and I think it’s only fitting that I share a meaningful

only fitting that I share a meaningful

only fitting that I share a meaningful story about my life or a meaningful

story about my life or a meaningful

story about my life or a meaningful story that has impacted my life and that

story that has impacted my life and that

story that has impacted my life and that is the story of David and Goliath now a

is the story of David and Goliath now a

is the story of David and Goliath now a lot of us are familiar with the story of

lot of us are familiar with the story of

lot of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath from the Sunday School

David and Goliath from the Sunday School

David and Goliath from the Sunday School rendition of it but I have a different

rendition of it but I have a different

rendition of it but I have a different perspective of it for me the moral of

perspective of it for me the moral of

perspective of it for me the moral of the story of David and Goliath is that

the story of David and Goliath is that

the story of David and Goliath is that technology is cool

technology is cool

technology is cool alright and this is how we see this

alright and this is how we see this

alright and this is how we see this little guy in david with this big

little guy in david with this big

little guy in david with this big problem goliath and is in his hands as a

problem goliath and is in his hands as a

problem goliath and is in his hands as a piece of technology a sling and he uses

piece of technology a sling and he uses

piece of technology a sling and he uses that sling to take care of the big

that sling to take care of the big

that sling to take care of the big problem that he’s facing now this story

problem that he’s facing now this story

problem that he’s facing now this story overlaid on the education system shows

overlaid on the education system shows

overlaid on the education system shows how meaningful the classroom is to

how meaningful the classroom is to

how meaningful the classroom is to people in need what we see is that

people in need what we see is that

people in need what we see is that education the classroom specifically is

education the classroom specifically is

education the classroom specifically is a symbol of hope and this symbol of hope

a symbol of hope and this symbol of hope

a symbol of hope and this symbol of hope crosses all social classes it’s

crosses all social classes it’s

crosses all social classes it’s considered to be the great equalizer and

considered to be the great equalizer and

considered to be the great equalizer and for students who are experiencing

for students who are experiencing

for students who are experiencing poverty this symbol means that no matter

poverty this symbol means that no matter

poverty this symbol means that no matter how a mess you are in the grip of

how a mess you are in the grip of

how a mess you are in the grip of poverty you can overcome you could

poverty you can overcome you could

poverty you can overcome you could escape all you have to do is work hard

escape all you have to do is work hard

escape all you have to do is work hard and study now that’s the truth but their

and study now that’s the truth but their

and study now that’s the truth but their systemic barriers that these students

systemic barriers that these students

systemic barriers that these students face the students who are the most

face the students who are the most

face the students who are the most vulnerable in society the first off is

vulnerable in society the first off is

vulnerable in society the first off is that education is built on attainment

that education is built on attainment

that education is built on attainment and achievement that means that there

and achievement that means that there

and achievement that means that there are winners and there are losers and the

are winners and there are losers and the

are winners and there are losers and the majority of the time those who lose have

majority of the time those who lose have

majority of the time those who lose have a similar background there are certain

a similar background there are certain

a similar background there are certain race they’re from a certain place

race they’re from a certain place

race they’re from a certain place they’re foreigners and it’s broken down

they’re foreigners and it’s broken down

they’re foreigners and it’s broken down so much in into that we couldn’t tell

so much in into that we couldn’t tell

so much in into that we couldn’t tell which students will achieve highly just

which students will achieve highly just

which students will achieve highly just based on what they eat even based on

based on what they eat even based on

based on what they eat even based on what they don’t eat and in addition this

what they don’t eat and in addition this

what they don’t eat and in addition this desk is further politicized we see that

desk is further politicized we see that

desk is further politicized we see that students are overwhelmed with the

students are overwhelmed with the

students are overwhelmed with the pressures to perform highly on

pressures to perform highly on

pressures to perform highly on standardized tests they’re asked to get

standardized tests they’re asked to get

standardized tests they’re asked to get good grades and not only that be on good

good grades and not only that be on good

good grades and not only that be on good behavior and be in school every day of

behavior and be in school every day of

behavior and be in school every day of the week

the week

the week this is further than that

this is further than that

this is further than that school struggling schools use students

school struggling schools use students

school struggling schools use students and their performance and their

and their performance and their

and their performance and their attendance to determine who gets hired

attendance to determine who gets hired

attendance to determine who gets hired to determine the amount of funding that

to determine the amount of funding that

to determine the amount of funding that they get from the state and the federal

they get from the state and the federal

they get from the state and the federal government the bottom line is this is

government the bottom line is this is

government the bottom line is this is that students who are most in need just

that students who are most in need just

that students who are most in need just to have the hope of being on the same

to have the hope of being on the same

to have the hope of being on the same level of students who are advantaged

level of students who are advantaged

level of students who are advantaged need more resources and for the most

need more resources and for the most

need more resources and for the most part that doesn’t happen resources get

part that doesn’t happen resources get

part that doesn’t happen resources get directed elsewhere and the result is

directed elsewhere and the result is

directed elsewhere and the result is that the avenues in which families and

that the avenues in which families and

that the avenues in which families and students have to escape poverty are

students have to escape poverty are

students have to escape poverty are becoming smaller and smaller so this

becoming smaller and smaller so this

becoming smaller and smaller so this talk is it’s a call to action for every

talk is it’s a call to action for every

talk is it’s a call to action for every educator in the room for them to

educator in the room for them to

educator in the room for them to understand that it’s our responsibility

understand that it’s our responsibility

understand that it’s our responsibility to equip students with the sling that’s

to equip students with the sling that’s

to equip students with the sling that’s going to be that is going to take care

going to be that is going to take care

going to be that is going to take care of the systemic problems that they that

of the systemic problems that they that

of the systemic problems that they that they face in the classroom and outside

they face in the classroom and outside

they face in the classroom and outside of the classroom there are large

of the classroom there are large

of the classroom there are large barriers but technology can be a

barriers but technology can be a

barriers but technology can be a possible solution now this reminds me of

possible solution now this reminds me of

possible solution now this reminds me of a story that I experienced I’ll never

a story that I experienced I’ll never

a story that I experienced I’ll never forget when I got the acceptance letter

forget when I got the acceptance letter

forget when I got the acceptance letter to UC Berkeley one of the greatest

to UC Berkeley one of the greatest

to UC Berkeley one of the greatest moments of my life and in this moment

moments of my life and in this moment

moments of my life and in this moment I’m never gonna forget that I shared it

I’m never gonna forget that I shared it

I’m never gonna forget that I shared it with my mom

with my mom

with my mom it was prestigious school I never

it was prestigious school I never

it was prestigious school I never thought I would get in and when I told

thought I would get in and when I told

thought I would get in and when I told my mom she cried she said son you’re on

my mom she cried she said son you’re on

my mom she cried she said son you’re on the same level as a children of

the same level as a children of

the same level as a children of millionaires you made it and this is a

millionaires you made it and this is a

millionaires you made it and this is a woman who raised me as a single mother

woman who raised me as a single mother

woman who raised me as a single mother and who struggled to make ends meet and

and who struggled to make ends meet and

and who struggled to make ends meet and when I went to school as much as I

when I went to school as much as I

when I went to school as much as I wanted to believe that I realized that

wanted to believe that I realized that

wanted to believe that I realized that it wasn’t true you see if a

it wasn’t true you see if a

it wasn’t true you see if a millionaire’s son fell out of college

millionaire’s son fell out of college

millionaire’s son fell out of college they’d have a support a safety net but

they’d have a support a safety net but

they’d have a support a safety net but if I fell out of college didn’t I

if I fell out of college didn’t I

if I fell out of college didn’t I wouldn’t have one and that hurt me I

wouldn’t have one and that hurt me I

wouldn’t have one and that hurt me I didn’t understand why one was privileged

didn’t understand why one was privileged

didn’t understand why one was privileged over the other

over the other

over the other but my perspective changed when I when I

but my perspective changed when I when I

but my perspective changed when I when I step into my first computer science

step into my first computer science

step into my first computer science course the professor stepped into an

course the professor stepped into an

course the professor stepped into an auditorium into an auditorium about this

auditorium into an auditorium about this

auditorium into an auditorium about this size and he said this after introducing

size and he said this after introducing

size and he said this after introducing himself he said never before in history

himself he said never before in history

himself he said never before in history has the opportunity to attain wealth

has the opportunity to attain wealth

has the opportunity to attain wealth been more easily available as it is

been more easily available as it is

been more easily available as it is today

today

today you could be poor learn how to code and

you could be poor learn how to code and

you could be poor learn how to code and make six figures it’s unprecedented and

make six figures it’s unprecedented and

make six figures it’s unprecedented and that changed my perspective that changed

that changed my perspective that changed

that changed my perspective that changed my perspective a lot what I realize is

my perspective a lot what I realize is

my perspective a lot what I realize is that in order to create my own safety

that in order to create my own safety

that in order to create my own safety net I’d have to learn a marketable skill

net I’d have to learn a marketable skill

net I’d have to learn a marketable skill and that wasn’t enough I also wanted to

and that wasn’t enough I also wanted to

and that wasn’t enough I also wanted to teach that skill so that students who

teach that skill so that students who

teach that skill so that students who grew up in a similar predicament as mine

grew up in a similar predicament as mine

grew up in a similar predicament as mine would have the opportunity to make their

would have the opportunity to make their

would have the opportunity to make their own safety nets because I’m a firm

own safety nets because I’m a firm

own safety nets because I’m a firm believer that if students do not have

believer that if students do not have

believer that if students do not have access to the essential 21st century

access to the essential 21st century

access to the essential 21st century technological skills that they offer

technological skills that they offer

technological skills that they offer opportunities to earn poverty will be

opportunities to earn poverty will be

opportunities to earn poverty will be exacerbated not only in the country but

exacerbated not only in the country but

exacerbated not only in the country but also in the Central Valley and in

also in the Central Valley and in

also in the Central Valley and in Modesto

so I left with a newfound passion the

so I left with a newfound passion the codecs program was built and I found a

codecs program was built and I found a

codecs program was built and I found a passion teaching students about computer

passion teaching students about computer

passion teaching students about computer science for me

science for me

science for me technology is the ultimate sermon to the

technology is the ultimate sermon to the

technology is the ultimate sermon to the classroom it’s an uplifting message to

classroom it’s an uplifting message to

classroom it’s an uplifting message to those who are in need that through the

those who are in need that through the

those who are in need that through the beautiful dance of tech and education

beautiful dance of tech and education

beautiful dance of tech and education possibilities become endless and the

possibilities become endless and the

possibilities become endless and the Giants that we face become small but I

Giants that we face become small but I

Giants that we face become small but I also realizes that in the face of

also realizes that in the face of

also realizes that in the face of systemic problems poor performing

systemic problems poor performing

systemic problems poor performing schools poverty technology has the

schools poverty technology has the

schools poverty technology has the opportunity to equip students to

opportunity to equip students to

opportunity to equip students to overcome and I believe that my personal

overcome and I believe that my personal

overcome and I believe that my personal life is an example of that technology

life is an example of that technology

life is an example of that technology equipped me from living in a trailer on

equipped me from living in a trailer on

equipped me from living in a trailer on the worst route in the city to going to

the worst route in the city to going to

the worst route in the city to going to Harvard University that is the power of

Harvard University that is the power of

Harvard University that is the power of equipping students with the sling and

equipping students with the sling and

equipping students with the sling and that’s the opportunity that they have to

that’s the opportunity that they have to

that’s the opportunity that they have to say the Giants in their lives

so I’d like to encourage every educator

so I’d like to encourage every educator implement technology into the classroom

implement technology into the classroom

implement technology into the classroom have fun experiment trial and error try

have fun experiment trial and error try

have fun experiment trial and error try to learn alongside your students for

to learn alongside your students for

to learn alongside your students for every parents bring tech into the

every parents bring tech into the

every parents bring tech into the household because some of the best

household because some of the best

household because some of the best lessons of life I learned at the dinner

lessons of life I learned at the dinner

lessons of life I learned at the dinner table and in the living room

table and in the living room

table and in the living room so in closing I truly believe that

so in closing I truly believe that

so in closing I truly believe that technology in the hands of poor students

technology in the hands of poor students

technology in the hands of poor students those who are experiencing poverty

those who are experiencing poverty

those who are experiencing poverty parallels the sling and David’s hand and

parallels the sling and David’s hand and

parallels the sling and David’s hand and just as David was able to defeat Goliath

just as David was able to defeat Goliath

just as David was able to defeat Goliath I believe that students who live in our

I believe that students who live in our

I believe that students who live in our communities live in our state and live

communities live in our state and live

communities live in our state and live around the country and around the world

around the country and around the world

around the country and around the world who experience poverty can use that same

who experience poverty can use that same

who experience poverty can use that same technology that sling to slay the

technology that sling to slay the

technology that sling to slay the systemic problems in the education

systemic problems in the education

systemic problems in the education sector but also in society thank you

sector but also in society thank you

sector but also in society thank you [Applause]