Week 2-Unequal Opportunity and Restorative Justice Reflection

Article 1 - Restorative justice is about more than just reducing suspensions

Reading this article made me think more deeply about how education isn’t just about learning material, but also about having support and feeling like you belong. It showed how students from underserved communities sometimes face challenges that affect their confidence and access to help, resources, and guidance. As a MAPS intern, this connects to my role in mentoring students and supporting their growth, not just on an academic level, but also a personal level. It reminded me that being patient, encouraging, and understanding can make a difference, and that even the smallest efforts can creating a comfortable space and learning environment, like a restorative circle, where students feel heard, respected, and supported.

Article 2 - Unequal Opportunity: Race and Education

This article highlighted how educational inequality in the U.S. isn’t necessarily about student ability but more so about unequal access to quality resources like experienced teachers, challenging curriculums, and smaller class sizes. Minority and low-income students are usually stuck in underfunded and underserved schools with fewer opportunities, which creates gaps in achievements. Reading this made me reflect on my role as a MAPS intern, where I directly help students who face barriers like these. It reinforced that mentoring is more than tutoring, but it’s also about providing support, guidance, and access to opportunities that students might not be able to get elsewhere, which helps them feel capable despite these systemic challenges.