BRITTANY
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
BRITTANY
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
In honor of International Women Day, I felt it was necessary to share my closing thoughts and reflect on my life after my journey in the Dominican Republic. As the infamous Mary Jane would say, "Entonces...." In years past, I never felt anything inside on days like today, International Women Day, but today, I do. I feel like I almost represent all the beautiful women I met on my trip, here in the United States. I feel proud that I was able to be apart of the fight to end generational poverty. I am still feeling so inspired after my experiences working in Cabarete. I have always wanted to be an educator, but I feel working with a foundation like The Mariposa DR Foundation is my life calling. I want to be apart of something greater. This journey taught me that I am the world's most powerful force for change. Once I returned home, I found myself strongly divided from the moment I stepped off the plane. I was a more humbled person. I was more patient, giving, understanding, even empathetic. I did not want to accept the reality of my life at home in Buffalo, NY. I feared I would quickly fall back into old habits that I had gotten over while in the Dominican. I became a better, stronger, woman during my journey, and I did not want that to disappear when I returned to my old routine waiting for me at home. Ultimately, I was trying to prepare myself for the changes that would happen in my life once I return back to the states because what used to be considered important to me before my trip, was not as nearly as important to me after. It was difficult to begin eating American prepared food again. I struggled for a week or two trying to keep food in, but all I really wanted was my diet to consist of organic pineapples, avocados, and con con again. I felt "home-sick" even though I was technically home. Since I was without a phone throughout the majority of my trip, I was almost disappointed that I had to get a new one before spring semester began. I did not like the idea of being glued to social media again. It was so refreshing to not have access to the online world while in the Dominican. It enhanced my experience and forced me to have more conversations with people, to observe what was surrounding me, and use my eyes for more useful things than starring at a screen every free moment I had. I am more perceptive to seeing others' ignorance for what it really is, and still find myself disconnected from those who surrounded me. Figuring out a caption for your Instagram picture, or deciding on what college party to attend that weekend, I find myself thinking about Katiana, a mariposita I connected with at the foundation who did not want me to leave, or if everyone I met in the Dominican is safe and happy, and even ways I can make a difference to help end generational poverty. My mind has been permanently altered. This once in a life time experience has taught me many things not only about myself, but has confirmed my purpose in life. I know that I will be one of hopefully thousands, to help in the fight to end generational poverty. I have plans to return to Caberete and continue to work for the Mariposa DR Foundation. I find myself advocating about the foundation almost every where I go, and hope to one day have foundations for girls in the Untied States; all over the world! Empowering these girls to be greater than a mother by thirteen years old, is what can change the world and how we operate. It is just as essential for girls to receive an education, as it is for boys. Everyone should have the right to be educated. I am now a firm believer in holistic approaches to teaching after I had the pleasure of being taught Spanish by Mary Jane, a literacy teacher at the foundation. She believes in pushing her students to think critically about the issues the next generation will face and possible solutions to these problems. She is the most inspirational and fun-loving educator I have ever come across, and I can only hope to be as amazing of an educator as she is. I encourage experiences such as mine, to a generation like ours. It is important to our future to understand third-world perspectives, what poverty actually looks like, where education is lacking and why, and to be encouraged to turn off the iPhones or Andriods in order to open the eyes you were blessed with and actually see the world for its entirety. We can all be the world's most powerful force for change! Until next time....
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AuthorJunior | 716 | Alpha Epsilon Phi | Music and Traveling Enthusiast | Concert and Movie Goer | Lemon Addict Archives
March 2017
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