Global Education

I left college armed with pain, frustration, hope and the passion to change things..

I entered my first Psychology class in the Philippines, with my heart beating in my open palms, going around showing it to everyone.. My life has just begun.

I made my students write about their hearts and hurts. We all hoped together. Listened to each other. In that packed, dark classroom, I knew I was there. There was no one else watching, it was just us. My students and I...

As time went on, I had a dream. I wanted to make that classroom, the world. I wanted to see through the eyes of children raised by the different temperatures and colors in this planet. I wanted to see. I just wanted to see, if when I enter that classroom, it will still be, just my students and I.

It was a sacred room, a sacred space - that is safe for everyone, to just be.

This was what I made it to be. What I hoped it would be.

I miss the vulnerability of my students in the Philippines. But I saw the lack of it too, when my perspective shifted, when fear sank in, when life flickered in me. The latter part of my teaching, became dry, boring, routine-like. I did not dare to look into their eyes anymore. I did not talk to them after class. I did not bother knowing who they were. I just wanted to deliver, and get out of there.

And light is nothing, without darkness.

I find myself back into that feeling when I first entered my dark classroom for the first time. When I was ready to be there with every single bone in my body. And when all that mattered was that - I WAS THERE. And it felt like there is just the moment suspended in time. And we all felt it. The tears when the year ended, were but hanging on to more of those days.

There were many days, when no moment felt special. And yet, there are days like this, that I realize, I can't take a dream realized for granted.

I want to move on though. Move to another land, another place- and see and meet new eyes.