Four years ago I started my first year of University and was adjusting to life in a new city. When I think back to this time, I remember it being a fairly smooth transition for me because I knew my roommate from high school and quickly got involved in a Christian group on campus. The hardest part about being at University that year wasn't that I was away from home, but rather the hardest part about being at University was that I struggled so often with understanding my purpose and who I was. More than anything I just wanted to feel like my life mattered, like I had something worthwhile to offer to the world. I wanted to impact the world around me somehow. But I didn't feel like I was impacting anyone in my first year of University, instead I felt restricted and limited by other people's expectations of me. The truth was that I didn't want to be studying, I didn't want to have to attend two hour lectures where I listened to someone talk about a subject. I wanted to be out there, interacting with the world, not segregated from the real world in some sort of University bubble. What I did not realize then that I realize now, is what a privilege and honor it was for me to complete a four year University degree.
My mom worked incredibly hard and sacrificed so much so I could have the opportunity to have a post-secondary education. Never once did she second-guess my ability to go to University and we never discussed the possibility of other plans because she knew what I was capable of. My mom never went to University and neither did my dad. They didn't have the opportunity to experience lectures and seminar discussions and expensive cafe food. But even though they didn't attend University, my mom never doubted my ability to do and become whatever I needed to, so that I could impact the world around me. My mom always showed me the importance of pursuing education, as she went back to school to get her hair-styling licence later on in life. In my first two years at Brock, I took my education for granted and wished that I could be somewhere else but oh what a privilege it has been to get an University education. It was in University that I was given the language I needed to describe the things that made my heart beat fast. It was at University that I learned about racism, social justice and privilege. It was at University that my passion for justice grew stronger and stronger. It was at University where I met my second family. It was at University where I drew closer to God, learned about his character and what it meant to live in community. It was at University where I learned about the Urbana Missions Conference and was given the opportunity to go in 2015 and 2018. It was during University that my favorite person was born, baby Jonah. It was at University where I was given the opportunity to write an undergraduate thesis and realized how much I love research and learning about people's stories. It was at University where I learned about Global Shore Opportunities and my love for the Spanish language and culture was re-ignited. My mom was able to see what I couldn't see all those years ago. She believed in me and knew that my dreams and expectations were too small. And now, I am in Kingston, studying to become an educator. I don't know if I would even be here today if it weren't for the prayers, sacrifice, love and resilience of my mother. I don't know if I would even be here today if Jesus didn't become the friend He did to me all those years ago. I don't know if I would even be here today if it weren't for the people who prayed for me since I was young. Four years ago I was 17 years old and now I am 21. I am still so young and have so much more to see and learn in this thing called life, but oh how my heart overflows with joy because I have seen the goodness of God in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13)
0 Comments
|
AuthorRecent Brock & Queen's graduate and Third Year Teacher! I love to talk about life, justice and faith. Archives
July 2022
Categories |