Look, Mom, we're on a field trip!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Saturday, February 06, 2010
My Future Profession
We invited 34 children from the rural villages of the oblast to a career skills seminar called “My Future Profession.” Our first day of trainings included Setting Realistic Goals, Professional Behavior, and Mock Interviews in order to prepare them for the second day during which we took them on six separate field trips depending on their prospective career fields. We had each group later present to the whole group on what they learned on their excursion.
I was hyped about increasing the opportunities of young Kyrgyz people and am really thankful that I got to help coordinate this event. I don’t think I’ll be able to forget the rural Kyrgyz high school student standing up and declaring her career goals with such conviction and presence that when she tells me she plans to find a cure for AIDS – I believe her. Later I watched our group of children engage in lively debate on how to alleviate poverty in their communities. These are the questions more people should be asking their generation (and our generation).
Since I’m not a teacher, this opportunity comes rarely to me. But maybe because of that I have a different perspective on it. It’s so powerful when you give these children the benefit of the doubt and aren’t afraid to challenge them. At the same times that you challenge them by refusing to simply give them the answers, if you encourage them and watch them actually rise to meet your expectations - the whole experience is inspiring. And I hate to portray some ‘movie of the week’ vibe but it simply merits mention and further appreciation of the truly good teachers out there.
I went along with the future medical professionals to the children’s hospital and rehabilitation center in Osh. I felt on the verge of tears practically the whole time. Partly due to the adorable disabled and diseased children wandering the hallways and lying in the hospital beds - and partly because I could just imagine the deep feelings of hope that our children get to experience when they’re granted the luxury of thinking about their futures. They have such remarkable dreams - especially considering the extremely low salaries of doctors in this country. They dream of futures where they can help the sick, the underprivileged, their family – I admire their dreams.
Photos of the event to follow shortly.
I was hyped about increasing the opportunities of young Kyrgyz people and am really thankful that I got to help coordinate this event. I don’t think I’ll be able to forget the rural Kyrgyz high school student standing up and declaring her career goals with such conviction and presence that when she tells me she plans to find a cure for AIDS – I believe her. Later I watched our group of children engage in lively debate on how to alleviate poverty in their communities. These are the questions more people should be asking their generation (and our generation).
Since I’m not a teacher, this opportunity comes rarely to me. But maybe because of that I have a different perspective on it. It’s so powerful when you give these children the benefit of the doubt and aren’t afraid to challenge them. At the same times that you challenge them by refusing to simply give them the answers, if you encourage them and watch them actually rise to meet your expectations - the whole experience is inspiring. And I hate to portray some ‘movie of the week’ vibe but it simply merits mention and further appreciation of the truly good teachers out there.
I went along with the future medical professionals to the children’s hospital and rehabilitation center in Osh. I felt on the verge of tears practically the whole time. Partly due to the adorable disabled and diseased children wandering the hallways and lying in the hospital beds - and partly because I could just imagine the deep feelings of hope that our children get to experience when they’re granted the luxury of thinking about their futures. They have such remarkable dreams - especially considering the extremely low salaries of doctors in this country. They dream of futures where they can help the sick, the underprivileged, their family – I admire their dreams.
Photos of the event to follow shortly.
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