Raquel Brown By Mahder Etuma

As a singer, a teacher and a mother, Ms.Brown have touched a lot of young kids heart from their personal problems to school problems. She has been with the Upward Bound program for 3 years as an English teacher. With a strong base, she has grown to come and educate others from the mistakes that she have learned over the years. The talented, open minded and outgoing Ms. Brown believes she is making a change everyday for High School students by helping them express their feelings through writing.

“I feel like people don’t fundamentally change, but they grow” was the passion she had during the question; what do you think when you hear “be the change”. With her strong opinion, she sends the message that everyone has different prospective on different things, which means they should stand in the things they believe in no matter what. The expression “change” to her means accomplishment “Change to me means not easy to change and it take a lot of time. You also have to look at yourself”. As Obama said “change we can believe in” Ms. Brown believes in the same thing. Inspired by her daughter to make change, she has mentioned some problems she has been facing with her daughter and herself. She feels that people resist changing and are not willing to work hard and has no determination or courage. She is willing to stay with Upward Bound, film projects and art programs to show her commitment of become the change. She believes that she is not sure to what being the change will do because she feels like she is not attached to the outcome. When asked the question; what do you think the theme “be the change” in Upward bound mean? She responded by saying “I think that it is just a phrase and that in order for change to happen it all depend on that person’s actions.”

Ms. Brown is a person who is determined to make change and do the right thing. She will take opportunities to change others people’s life and make them realize that change can happen for those who don’t accept change into their lives. As a walking example she will be doing the same thing she is doing now but better because she is a teacher helping students and there is always room for improvements. I sure wouldn’t mind doing the same thing she is doing considering the fact that I also like helping and making the change.