“If they can’t understand it, how can they reach me?” – Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio
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My first year of teaching was a culture shock. A Black woman from Philadelphia, I found myself in a predominantly Hispanic middle school, co-teaching Reading and English. Most of my students were born in Mexico and Nicaragua, many learning English as a second language. Their reading and writing skills were low, and their patience with me—a newcomer who looked and sounded different—was even lower. Boy, was I out of my element.

But here’s the thing: I was exactly where I needed to be.

Building Bridges Through Understanding

Coolio’s words cut deep: If they can’t understand it, how can they reach me? In the classroom, understanding isn’t just about language. It’s about culture, trust, and heart. My students didn’t just need another English lesson. They needed to know I saw them, that I respected where they came from.

At first, I struggled. I wanted to “fix” their reading and writing problems quickly, but they wanted to know whether I was really listening. They wanted to know if I cared enough to learn about their families, their food, their music, their jokes. Once I slowed down and leaned into understanding, something shifted.

I started sprinkling Spanish phrases into lessons. Not perfect, but enough to show effort. I celebrated their heritage holidays. I learned to laugh when they teased me about my Philadelphia accent. The more I embraced their world, the more they invited me in.

Patience is the Bridge

Looking back, I realize how often I leaned on Scripture during those moments of doubt. Proverbs 14:29 (NIV) says, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”

I came in ready to push—get the reading scores up, get the essays turned in, get them “caught up.” But pushing harder only built walls. Patience, however, built bridges. When I slowed down, gave them room to struggle, and honored the pace of their learning, they responded. My understanding of them deepened, and their trust in me grew.

Patience wasn’t a weakness. It was the quiet strength that held us together.

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

It wasn’t just about teaching English—it was about being taught. My students reminded me that real education flows both ways.

• Identity matters. As a Black woman, my roots shaped how I approached them. I knew what it felt like to be underestimated, to have people assume less of me because of how I looked or spoke. That made me determined not to repeat that mistake with them.
  
• Respect is reciprocal. When I honored their stories, they honored mine. They began asking me about Philadelphia, about being Black in America, about my life outside school. Those conversations became doorways to trust.
  
• Understanding takes time. Just like Proverbs reminds us, patience creates space for understanding. And in that space, relationships grow strong enough to carry learning.

A Shared Struggle

Here’s the truth: my students and I weren’t so different after all. They wrestled with fitting in, navigating two languages and two cultures. I wrestled with standing out, one of three Black teachers in the building, trying to find my rhythm. Together, we met in the middle, bound by struggle and resilience.

And in that shared space, learning became possible.

Why It Still Matters

Decades later, I carry those first lessons with me in every classroom, every workshop, every coaching session. Understanding isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of teaching, healing, and connecting.

We live in a world where difference often divides. But in a classroom in that Hispanic middle school, difference became our teacher. It reminded me that reaching someone starts with understanding them.

Gangsta’s Paradise isn’t just a song from the 90’s—it’s a reminder. If they can’t understand it, how can they reach me? And if I can’t understand them, how can I reach them?

Final Thought

That first year taught me that education is less about textbooks and more about relationships. It’s about showing up, listening, and letting patience lead the way. Coolio’s words and Proverbs 14:29 speak the same truth: wisdom lives in understanding, and understanding opens the door to connection.

So whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or just someone trying to bridge divides, remember this: patience unlocks understanding, and understanding makes reaching each other possible.

Copyright © 2025 by Edna Brown. All Rights Reserved.