How I became ‘that kid always wearing a tie’
Nativity, itself, means “the beginning” or “birth of.” I believe Nativity Preparatory School is the birth of a better New Bedford.
The few people who are lucky enough to receive Nativity’s education are grateful and will hopefully give back to the community in some way. If most of the kids that come to Nativity give back to New Bedford, New Bedford will be a much better place.
This is the re-birth of the ghetto, or slums, that New Bedford citizens have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. No longer will a person have to worry about getting an education, going to a good high school and being safe at the same time. Nativity will change the feeling of worry into a feeling of confidence.
Nativity is also an outlet to me. The teachers are understanding and easy to get along with. The teachers are there for our help. If I have any trouble in class, I like to talk to the teachers about it. They offer great criticism and help for any problems that people may face. The teachers especially helped me on my first year here at Nativity.
My first year at Nativity meant a new life. I went from “that kid who everybody knew” to “that kid always wearing a tie.” Most of my friends would make fun of me because I wore a tie. This made me want to show them how successful I could be in life without going to the local schools they went to.
I wanted to visit them in their local schools one day and see how they were doing. If it was the same as I recall in elementary school, they were settling with Bs, Cs, and mostly Ds. I did not want this for me. I wanted to do better. Nativity was the perfect place for me because I have always strived to do better.
Nativity opened my eyes to a whole new group of friends. These friends were more like me. These were the kids striving for the A, like I was. I got to know my friends and teachers better than I ever could have if I went to other schools.
Nativity classes usually have around 15 kids in the class, and everything was stripped from us, from our hair to our clothes. Because of this, we all saw each other as the same. There were no cliques, gangs, or separations. We were just students, all alike and for the same cause as we believe in today, to better ourselves and to turn Greater New Bedford into Even Greater New Bedford.
I come here 11 hours and 30 minutes a day, and I will cherish every second that I have of it here at Nativity.
By ISAIAH RATTI
Isaiah Ratti lives in New Bedford. He is graduating from eighth grade at Nativity Preparatory School this year.
June 15, 2010 12:00
