“I didn't understand anything because of my hunger. I wasn't dumb. It wasn't lack of interest. My social condition didn't allow me to have an education. Experience showed me once again the relationship between social class and knowledge."
-Paulo Freire
Lately I've been a little apprehensive about my future, as I think I talked about in my last post. I've been thinking of why I didn't do one of these programs where I would be traveling and doing mission work... and then I realized it when I was talking to one of my best friends.We were talking about how society tends to look down on people that are different than us. And one of those ways is that we tend to say that all people are granted equal opportunity. But really, that's not true.
Growing up, I went to top notch schools in a great school district. I had teachers who cared about me (I remember my kindergarden teacher coming to my house to deliver my Valentines after I missed our Valentine's day party 'cause I was at home sick. She also babysat once for my brother and I when I parents were out of town). I also had parents who spent hours explaining things to me, reading with me and to me, working on science fair projects and silly things in physics when we had to build a bridge. And if they weren't able to help me, they were willing to hire a tutor for me. It was assumed that I was going to attend college... not that I ever tried to fight that.
My parents made sure that I was eating well and was creating healthy habits. They made sure that I learned that exercise is good and that that was present in their lives as well. They taught me that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated as such.
This was the life that I was presented.
But not everyone has that. There are many kids whose parents don't care about their education. There are parents who don't want their children to go to college. Or even if they do, the kids don't have a way of getting to school or paying for it, even with scholarships. There are parents who don't necessarily care what their kids put in their mouths or they can't afford to care.
There are kids who don't know that education is out there and available. There are kids that this is not an option for.
So my friend and I were sitting in his car and talking about this and it hit me. These doubts that I've been having lately just dissipated.
Why am I going to grad school? Why am I doing four more years of school in divinity and social work?
Why?
Because I can. I have this opportunity set right there before me, and I'm going to take it. I'm going to take it for the people who can't or don't know how. I'm going to take it for the kids who go to bed hungry or without the nutrients they need to have a good mind to learn well.
So yes, this is why I'm going to school for longer....
Because I can and others can't, and it is my duty as a servant of Christ to take the opportunities I've been given and use them for his glory.
