Some
similarities that I noticed between the students and myself are the desire to
achieve through education. Growing up, even from kindergarten my teacher would
constantly tell my former peers and me how important it was to pass so that we
could go on to the next grade. Every year following after the next was the
same. Every teacher said something similar. Nearly done with high school, my
junior year I was so petrified. Every grade counted and just imagining the
results of my SATs felt like jumping across a cliff. If I messed up trying to
cross that cliff, ultimately my future would be paying the price.
|
Alyssa as Elementary School Student of the Month |
After
watching this film Testing Hope: Grade 12 in the New South Africa, and
connecting my own experience I realized that Education alone is a test. What
step is after college when you spend thousands of dollars for a career that may
not get you a job and are in debt with loans until you’re nearly dead? How
about buy a house or one of your dream cars? Without a doubt, having an
education beyond high school is beneficial but is it necessary to be
successful? In Cape Town, personally I feel like the students there have it a
lot harder than students here mainly because of the environment some are living
in absolute poverty and dealing with other issues including school such as
homelessness or HIV. In America, there are so many places such a shelters and
access to many medicines. In Cape Town, there is so little of assistance.
Therefore, even if they get into a good school, the money to send them there is
needed to take care of their family.
Going back
to money, in America I feel like education is somewhat a scheme to continue to
reach in our pockets. Look at it this way: 1. If you want your child to have
the "best" education you send to private schools [$] 2. Tutoring [$]
3. College [$] 4. House, Mortgage [$] 5. Car [$] 6. Paying back loans [$]
7. Ads, Media, etc. [$]. Granted, nothing in this life is free but instead of living the "American Dream" we
could ultimately just be buying the
"American Dream" they told us we'd have if we simply got a degree?
|
Students in Cape Town leaving school
at the end of the day. |
As far as
the students in Cape Town, personally I
feel like the influence on their education in some schools is
ultimately just a way to get them out of their country. I am not saying that
their education is not useful as for helping their families get out of their
living conditions. But from my experience, when I went to City Missions the
last two days of volunteering a boy said to me that he looked up to American
students and that he and other people are perceived as unintelligent compared
to us American students and that going to America meant more chances to be
someone in life. At that very moment, I literally wanted to cry! I could not
understand how someone I had become inspired by, through his words and knowledge,
had such mentality about education in South Africa. I told him and the rest of
the students that I looked up to them and that they are legends already.
What hurts
me the most is he isn't the first to tell me America is a land of opportunity.
When I went to Cape Town, I felt alive like never before. What some people in
Cape Town do not realize is that there is opportunity in Cape Town as well!
They can make a difference with or without education. For instance, Nelson
Mandela served 27 years in prison and later became South Africa's president in
1994. Although he did previously attend University studying law, it seems that
even without that extended education he still would have been the legend we
know today. Why, because he was motivated by what he believed and stood as a
strong individual to represent South Africans. The moral of the story is, yes
education is beneficial in some ways but do not let lack of education become
the reason for your limitation.
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