I am From…


 Journal of Urban Mathematics Education 
December 2012, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 53–54 

©JUME. http://education.gsu.edu/JUME 

 

 
 

TAMIKA N. BALL is a mathematics teacher at Therrell Educational Complex, School of 

Health Sciences and Research, Atlanta, GA and a first-year doctoral student at Georgia State 

University. She is the 2012–2013 Atlanta Public Schools District Teacher of the Year; her 

research interest includes the implementation of instructional technology in the urban mathematics 

classroom. 

PUBLIC STORIES OF MATHEMATICS EDUCATORS 
 

I Am From… 

 
Tamika N. Ball 

Therrell Educational Complex 

School of Health Sciences and Research 

 
I am from the ear piercing southern bell pearl wearing South 

I am from curtsey practicing debutant balling church going any given Sunday  

suburban world 

I am from village raising lady like displaying surroundings 

I am from toe-touching school spirit loving high volume talking atmospheres 

I am from single parent living midnight studying straight “A” making higher learning 

households 

I am from nightly homemade biscuit making interior decorating walls 

I am from day dreaming hopeful can’t stop wanting until I get it lifestyles 

I am from learning more when you listen and treating others the way you want to be 

treated living 

I am from live by example someone’s always watching you, so be on your P’s and Q’s 

environment 

I am my environment, I live my environment, I am from here can’t you see 

Well sure Mrs. Ball we see, the pearls, the “tude,” you reaching for the stars, but do you 

see me? 

I am from the hood wearing, tight leggings, walking out my mother’s house without a 

head turning home 

I am from late waking, no book carrying, asking for a pencil, yes a pencil, 180 days out 

of the year bright star 



 

 

 

Ball                                                                                                      Public Stories 

Journal of Urban Mathematics Education Vol. 5, No. 2 54 

I am from calm your neck phrasing, curse sailing, hallway skipping except your class 

“cause” you’re cool school 

I am my environment, I live my environment, I am from here can’t you see 

Well sure bright star I see, the style, the “tude,” you acting like you don’t really want it 

but do you see “we”? 

We are from afternoon tutoring, Cornell note writing, Math I, II, and III passing reality 

We are from repeated practicing, White Board relay winning, tic-tac-toe “MATHO” 

champion class 

We are from reward card winning, homework pass receiving, online assignment doing 

before Mrs. Ball calls my momma again order 

We make our environment, we live our environment, we are from here can’t you see