Chancelor J. Bennet, professionally known as Chance the Rapper, states in his lyrics, “who’s that in the back of the back? You deserve a plaque and a pat on the back,” (Bennet, 2019). Through these lyrics Bennet implicitly voices his belief in accepting and praising people despite their differences. This is evident if we imagine Bennet is standing in front of a group and he addresses someone that is peripheral to it and not immediately noticeable; he still realizes their presence and ensures they feel welcome and have a chance to succeed. This group represents society or a classroom and the person at the back represents those who are marginalized, such as indigenous peoples or students with disabilities. As an aspiring teacher I know that I will have students who identify with marginalized groups and in order to help them achieve success and realize their potential I will need to create a learning environment that is as inclusive as it needs to be in order to suit students’ needs. Furthermore, I know that some students experience social challenges even if they are not a member of a marginalized community, thus making them feel like they do not fit in either. Although, a student’s social struggles are not always apparent. Therefore, rather than only helping those who appear to need it, I will aim to support each student’s learning through believing in them and making the necessary efforts to help them thrive.
