Written by DanielleChina Bone, a GC Educator based in Attleboro, Massachusetts
As an educator, I’ve come to understand that teaching isn’t just about imparting knowledge—it’s about connection, growth, and transformation. My journey into the classroom wasn’t conventional, but it’s a path that has profoundly shaped who I am today. Through my work with Generation Citizen (GC), I’ve found a way to align my personal story with a deeper mission: empowering young people to create meaningful change.
Before entering education, I often felt like a young woman stuck in a city I swore I’d leave behind. With two children and a degree in business administration, my dream was to own a restaurant, not to stand in front of a classroom. But something shifted when I began to think about the world I wanted for my children. That vision pulled me back to my old high school, where I shared my experiences as a student who often felt unseen and underestimated. I realized that change had to begin somewhere, and I wanted to be part of it.
In 2022, I started teaching civics and was introduced to GC. To say I was apprehensive would be an understatement. My background wasn’t in education, and civics felt intimidating. But from the moment I began engaging with GC’s curriculum and connecting with their team, I saw something extraordinary. The work wasn’t just about teaching a subject—it was about fostering agency, voice, and purpose in young people. For the first time, I felt like I had the tools to bridge my personal mission with my professional role.
Through GC, I’ve discovered the importance of truly knowing my students. To guide them in creating change, I need to understand who they are, what they care about, and how they see themselves in the world. This work has allowed me to witness incredible growth—not just in my students but in myself. Together, we’ve taken on projects like mental health accessibility, the affordability of driving lessons, and the lack of sidewalks in densely populated areas—projects that ripple beyond the classroom, touching families, communities, and even my own children.
Teaching civics has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s a space where students come alive with ideas and determination—where they begin to see themselves as architects of their own futures. It has also brought me closer to my city, a place I once felt disconnected from but now see as full of possibility.
My journey with GC isn’t about selling a program or following a script—it’s about the real and tangible impact of believing in young people and giving them the tools to believe in themselves. For anyone considering this work, I hope my story serves as a reminder that transformation is always possible—for students, for educators, and for the communities we call home.