Living on the sheltered and protected campus of SMU, you often forget that there is a world outside of it in which people are not living as well as we are. The same was true with my high school; everyone at the school pretty much knew that they were going to college and that they had sufficient funds to get in. I group up in a family that was by no means rich, but we always had pretty much all we needed and wanted and were able to pursue our goals academically without hindrance. I came from a family of highly educated people: everyone up to and including my grandparents went to college. So since I was born, I knew I would go to college, get a degree and get a job. This is not the case for a large population of the country, and I was reminded of this when I went to visited two schools in the Dallas Independent School District this week. I visited one through a mentorship program we have here at SMU through a club, Black Men Emerging. I visited the other school through my job, Group Excellence where we tutor kids and try to be a good role model for them. Both cases really showed me how much I should be thankful for. When I went to the school through the mentorship program, we just got all the kids together and talked to them about why they should go to college. We asked how many planned to go, and about half raised their hands. For me, this was unexpected as I had never met a kid who truly did not want to go to college. But for these kids, it was different. Many had no family members that had ever been to college, so why should they? Many thought they would not be able to afford it. After we talked to the kids for a while about how great college was, we had many more interested in going. The tragedy at schools like these is that the kids are not stupid, many of them being very bright. Unfortunately, the teachers are not competent and parents are not telling their kids that school is important. Kids are at these schools in their early 20's. The kids need someone to look up to that is in college and can show them the way.
One instance that really sticks out in my mind when I was at Group Excellence was when I was helping one kid with his work. He said he had to go to work in about half an hour, and another tutor and I gave him a hard time saying "awww nah man, you don't need to go to work; you need to stay here and do this TAKS packet". He responded "Okay, I'll stay if you guys help pay my bills"(We quickly assured him that he needed to go to work). This really sticks out to me because I grew up with the privilege that when I worked, I worked for myself. I realized then how many luxuries I really have and how many of them I take for granted. It made me even more resolute in my decision to help the kids at these schools. Many of them are probably smarter than I am, but they just were born into a less favorable situation than me. What made me so special that I got to be born into such a blessed life? As far as I am concerned, it is my duty to help these kids. I must spread what I have gotten so easily, without having to work barely at all. Many of these kids see college as an impossibility; they might not know anyone who has ever been. For them the chances of being dead or in jail are much more likely than college. They just need someone to show them that they can make it; I want to be one of the people to show them that.
2 comments:
You're absolutely right. Self-expectations make a huge difference in how people choose to direct their lives. Also, a great deal of responsibility belongs to the teachers, seeing as they're meant to guide students through all of this preparation for the real world. Sadly, not all of them actually happen to be dedicated. I've had teachers who have fallen asleep at their own desks. How sad.
It's great to hear that you're dedicating your time to help the DISD. Keep up the good work.
I really admire your attitudes toward education and humanity-- and truly enjoy reading your posts.
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