The gift of education

I had a heartbreaking moment today when a student gave up on himself in the middle of his math final.  He quit, put his head down, and said under his breath "I can't do this."  I paused... waited... hoping that he would pick himself back up again and start working, but he didn't.  I knew he needed a little push, a little encouragement.  So I waited another minute or two and started my normal lap around the room during a test - checking on a student here, commenting on making sure to show more work there, giving a smile to those that make eye contact - all of which are normal.  When I got to this student's desk I noticed his predominately blank exam. I looked at him and said "I know you are capable of a lot more than what you have on this paper. Can you show me everything you remember?" He looked up and said "This is from the part of the year that I stopped trying, this is the stuff that I chose not to learn. Remember?"  Knowing that although this is true he is smart enough to figure it out, I kept pushing. "Look at your formula sheet that I provided, apply those equations! You are smart enough to figure it out [insert student name], please try." Continuing my lap and checking on a couple other students, I look back and see him working a little.  Slowly piecing together the puzzle.  Struggling with confidence because he didn't apply himself earlier in the year.

I wonder if this will happen next year.  I know that there is a cycle of poverty in Honduras, so I am ready for motivation to be a struggle.  But I believe that education is the number one way to influence change. It is the way to a new life.  Education, no matter where you are, is such a gift.  I am thankful everyday for my parents fostering my interest in learning at a young age.  I am grateful that they pushed me not to be the best, but to be the best version of myself.  I am forever indebted to my primary school teachers for helping me with my struggles in learning and helping me to become confident in myself and my abilities.  And I am lucky to have had phenomenal teachers and professors from high school through graduate school that pushed me to think outside of the box and become a critical thinker.

Because of the gift of education that they have given me, I feel ready to become a missionary teacher.  They have instilled in me that value that "hard work makes dreams come true" (thank you Montour HS for that quote being next to the door daily, however cheesy - it is true).  I know that the next year is going to be a lot of hard work.  I am ready for it.  But I hope that my dream of helping others learn and end the cycle of poverty comes true.  I pray for all of my students, past, present, and future - that they may learn to love learning and become the best versions of themselves.


Please help fund my mission by donating here: http://www.gofundme.com/CherylHondurasMission