Thus far, my life has been lived with only one goal in mind: to leave the earth a better place than I found it.
Because of this commitment, I’ve always been keenly aware of the world’s many inequalities. It can seem insurmountable at times — but no matter the issues we face, to be a part of such a diverse and ever-changing world is a (consistently) humbling thing.
I‘ve always found myself emboldened by this and I aim to empower others in whatever meaningful ways I can. During my service with AmeriCorps, we taught free English classes to parents every night and tutored their children during the day. Grandparents and cousins were welcome too, of course! My students quickly became my family, and I became a part of theirs. They invited me into their homes, planned my surprise birthday party, continually asked why I wasn’t married yet and cooked endless amounts of fried foods so I would look “healthier.” It was the most wildly generous anyone had ever been to me — and from people that worked so hard, and had so little! It was then that I learned the power of passing on knowledge. The beauty of education is that once it has been cultivated, it continues to grow. It is truly the gift that never stops giving.
It takes a nuanced and intuitive nature to develop intercultural relationships. I want to build these relationships upon a foundation of respect and trust, earned through the mutual understanding that we are friends and allies in all things, just as we are citizens of the earth. I want to nurture their diverse and captivatingly unique skillsets, to be the conduit for their own inner light to grow indefinitely, to help them realize their full and innate potential — amongst so, so, so many other things.
I will work to bridge any cultural divides, because it is impossible to help people if we do not truly know them. I will be a representation of my country in parts of the world where values differ greatly from those at home. I will face unforeseen problems with grace and humility. I certainly will leave the earth a better place than I found it!
For me, this commitment does not end when my travel does. I will carry the lessons with me everywhere I go, sharing a message of peace and empowerment with any person who needs it. It is to these responsibilities that I dedicate my life. It will take dedication and hard work, but I always had been told that the best parts of life never did come easy.
june says
you inspire me to be a better person!