Melanie Tolan

I have been teaching for 14 years and all of that time has been with the San Diego Juvenile Court and Community Schools. We serve students who have been expelled, incarcerated, those who are homeless or foster youth, teenage mothers, and many students who have not been successful in traditional schools. I taught teenagers living in homeless shelters for over 9 years and experienced the joy of seeing them graduate and lead successful lives as adults. For the past 4 years, I have been teaching English Language Arts and U.S. History to males, ages 12-18, who are incarcerated in juvenile hall. Many of my students are seen by others as "lost causes", but I believe that all students can be successful and that it is never too late to inspire and motivate a person to love learning.

I am counting the days until our trip to Japan. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity to learn about the Japanese culture and educational system while traveling with my amazing colleagues. Of special interest, will be our journey to Hiroshima. I believe that it is crucial to show all sides to history, not just the American perspective. I am looking forward to seeing the Japanese point of view of the atomic bomb and bringing that back to my students. I am also excited to stay with a family in Oita and be immersed in the Japanese culture.

Thank you to JTB for their sponsorship and giving us this incredible experience.