Guatemala, Summer 2011

Me and Queren, my Guatemalan friend

Guatemala is a beautiful country. I didn't think I would miss it so much once I left last year (August 2011). There was so much to miss! My host family, my host mother's stories and delicious food, the engaging Spanish classes through Máximo Nivel, my amazing teacher at the school, the diversity of music you’d hear from people’s cars or shops on the street, the loud “Hola morena!” people (mainly men) would call out to me on my walks throughout Antigua, the cultural sensitivity of the people and their compassion towards “los gringos”, the adorable children and their liveliness at the school I volunteered at, and best of all, meeting Queren, my conversation partner through Máximo Nivel, because she is now one of my closest friends. 

“I don’t think I want you going there,” my Dad told me several weeks before I left. “I felt much better about Costa Rica. We hear too many bad things about Guatemala.”

I suppose that’s true. But don’t we hear many bad things about the United States, too? We hear “bad things” about every place on the globe. In fact, it’s statistically more dangerous to live in the state of New York, for example, than in the country of Guatemala alone. Crime rates, low or high, are inevitably present everywhere, and while no one place is perfect, we’ll find most people to be cordial and friendly, and your safety highly depends on how cautious you decide to be.

While in Antigua for six weeks, no one tried to shoot me or threaten to hurt me, which I'm sure were my parents' worst fears. The primary purposes of the trip were to immerse myself in the culture, hone my Spanish speaking and comprehension skills (before delving into the Spanish curriculum at Cornell), and volunteer for a couple of weeks at an elementary school nearby my homestay.

After a month and a half I came back in one piece, more culturally understanding, open-minded, and mature than before.

Las Vegas, Spring Break 2012

I spent a week in Las Vegas this year through a joint Alternative Spring Break with Teacher for America (TFA) and Zappos, a shoe company with incredible customer service that is headquartered in this city. TFA and Zappos partnered together to address the educational inequity in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is known for its gambling, sex and party scene, casinos…. This was pretty much what came to mind when I first considered applying to the program, but of course, this isn’t all there is to the city. There are many other wonderful things that people who have never been to Las Vegas may overlook (or are simply ignorant about).

There is an overwhelmingly large Latino population. I was a volunteer assistant to a TFA corps member who was taught a 3rd grade class, and I found that 95% of the students are Latino and the other 5% African American. All minorities. I was also taken aback by the tremendous work ethic and brilliance of these children. It shocked me because this same work ethic was not very articulated when I and other undergraduates from across the nation were recruited to present a potential solution to the achievement gap in the Las Vegas valley in front of the Superintendent of the schools.

Teach for American/Zappos 2012 Alternative Spring Break Crew

Las Vegas was an excellent location for us students to get to know each other and build strong bonds. In this program, I met undergraduates from all across the country who have brought with us different experiences, passions, and abilities. I felt unified with such a diverse group of open-minded individuals.

I love education. I genuinely enjoy teaching and addressing the achievement gap. Quality education is crucial for equipping children with the skills necessary to become our next generation of scholars and leaders.

My personal experiences with educational disruptions and challenges in my upbringing have deepened my sensitivity towards educational inequity, one of our nation’s greatest injustices. Children’s educational opportunities are largely determined by their socioeconomic status. The academic achievement gap affects families and communities, limits life options for students, and has significant economic and social implications for our country. I loved this opportunity to join with other avid proponents of the educational rights of disadvantaged and underrepresented children in our nation.