19/1/13
One of
the biggest questions I have been dealing with since deciding to come here
is-What do I want to do with my life?
Broad question for sure.
So far
in my life, I have thrived on being helpful to people. Doing the dishes, being proactive when things
need to be done, scraping shit without being asked, and generally being helpful
to any processes going on around me. I
really love this part about me, and I try to be helpful.
But
there is a difference between being helpful to and really, truly helping
people. Helping people is a much more
interactive process. What I really like
about WorldTeach is that we are partnered with the Namibian Ministry of
Education. We have asked them what their
goals are for their education system, and have worked out, in partnership with
the government, steps that we can take to help them achieve these goals in
their schools. As teachers in the
schools here, we are advocates and musclemen helping these goals become a
reality. We are not coming in here and
just spouting our own ideas about how things should be run, but instead are
listening, and working with everyone here to help them set up their vision for
education in Namibia.
Helping
also pans out on the individual level. I
have adopted a favorite question when I meet new learners: Why are you here? I
have gotten some pretty amazing answers. Students want to do their best, to
become engineers, doctors, geologists, to help their families, to get good
grades, to be part of something bigger than themselves. I want to help them achieve these goals—get
them the academic education they need, impart computer skills they need to be a
part of the global society, empower them to not get pregnant, and keep them
healthy so that these goals can be followed through on to the end.
Well
don’t I just sound all idealistic. Ah to be young and doing service for
others. Oh wait. That’s me. I know I’ll get jaded, but I hope
I don’t lose sight of that goal to truly help others.
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