Jennifer Aguilera, a student of Amy Schlessman at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep in Waukegan, Illinois, read and responded to the YES! Acosta shares how his school district’s “rehumanized” Mexican American Studies Program helped empower students by connecting their learning to their history and who they are. Writing Prompt: Describe a teacher or a classroom experience that helped make learning joyful and meaningful for you. She taught me that learning does not start on the first day of school; it begins with alphabet soup and curiosity. I share these experiences to help teachers avoid them.