As I envy a couple of my classmates that are fortunate to spend their spring break tanning under the beautiful blue skies or alligator hunting at the Florida everglades, I spend mine back at home enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate in the snowy weather. While organizing my folders, I found this very interesting essay. This does not particularly relate to sustainable development, but it is something I hold near and dear to my heart. Lately, our class time has been about "why we care", "what it our motivation", and this classes had been quite effective in directing myself to dig deeper for a reason. I found this essay that I wrote for Global Citizenship about an global issue that I care about, I reread it again and every word still leaves an imprint in my heart. I would like to share it with you.
Here is the title:
Choose a current global issue. Tell us what you know about it, why it interests you, and how you hope the Global Citizenship Program could help you learn more.
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| Image source :http://btccgl.org |
I
especially love the quote from a physicist, Michio Kaku, “One advantage of
youth is that it is undaunted by worldly constraints that would ordinarily seem
insurmountable to most adults.” As youth, we dare to dream of changing the
world and speak our minds unbounded by the formality of an adult. This is
portrayed by Occupy Wall Street movement attracting millions of students to
protest at college campuses and the rising of the Arab Spring facilitated by
social media prevalent among youth. Although our influence might be limited, it
does not stop us from supporting the ethical and amending the immoral.
Unfortunately, speaking up was not inscribed in me as a child.
Growing
up in Malaysia, I was taught to accept decades old rules, no question is asked.
The bamboo stick disciplined students and teacher’s word was law. The focus of
learning had always been competition for a better percentage on tests. In this
system, integrity and social responsibility are ignored. Upon moving to the
United States, I have had the opportunity to truly learn. Learning became
pleasurable; it’s not about being spoon-fed but rather being independent in
unearthing knowledge myself. I find enjoyment in this system where students are
given freedom to peruse activities that they are adored. Punishment and
competition are set aside; encouragement and collaboration are being held near
and dear. This, I have learned, is a much better approach of education.
However,
no education system is simply perfect. Recently, the issue of achievement gap
had drawn my attention as I wrote my English research paper on issues facing
youth. “Achievement gap” is a familiar term; however the focus is always on
racial differences; while the gap caused by the different socioeconomic
background is deemphasized.
Upon
researching, I learned that students from wealthy family spend 1300 more hours
in novel places and 400 more hours in literacy activities compare to their less
wealthy counterpart. The statistic pertains to children before age six and the
gap will only widens as these students start schooling. According to another
research, in 1997 Americans from the higher echelon of the society spend 5
times as much in education; by 2007, the spending gap had grown into a nine to
one ratio. The staggering statistic places a burden in my heart; it upset me
that the uncontrollable factor such as socioeconomic background prevents
teenagers from achieving their dreams. Yet, it’s not wrong for wealthy parents to
desire the best to their posterity, it is but instinctive behavior.
Perhaps
there may is no simple solution to the problem. Perhaps my effort such as
mentoring underprivileged kids is insignificant, but this is only the
beginning. Given any opportunity to make a difference in a kid’s life, even if
it’s merely one student, I will seize the opportunity. This, I found to be my moral
obligation, my way of giving back to domestically and internationally. Education
is the road to civilization and the path to improvement so I wish to gather
more knowledge about education system in other countries. Perhaps, one day
given a chance, integrate it to our existing system.
To
me, education is not always easily accessible; it’s precious and fragile ideal
that was fought for. I seek a community that aligns with my passionate in
helping the week, giving rest to the weary, and supporting the feeble. I
believed Global Citizenship Program abide by all these qualities. In the world
of rapid globalization, we are not just dwellers of a country but delegates of
the world.
Recently in our meeting with Sara, she had address the need to create a survey. The objective of this survey is to acquire more information about how well developed these community around the lakes are. The development of lakes varies drastically from one to another. We had discuss about this and agreed that this is the best approach. Since we do not know what type of infrastructure they already have or do not have, it would be most beneficial to collect data and then analyse the specific need of the community.
