My favorite Zambian guy friends at the airport in Lusaka. They stayed long after I went into security and was checking my bags, just to see me as long as they could! SO SWEET!
Photo Credit: Sherri Ellington
Dear students,
For the past year
I’ve had the pleasure of standing in front of you everyday. I want to explain
to you what I see when I look at you. I see a group of young men and women who
deserve to follow their dreams. I see intelligence. I see joy. I see beauty. I
see determination. I see hard work. I see people who haven’t given up, even
during hard times. I see people
who confront challenges. I see people who want to succeed. I see the future of
Zambia. I see you.
Some of you know
these things about yourselves. But some of you don’t. We all know that life
isn’t easy. Things like good grades on exams aren’t just handed to you. We have
to work hard. We have to do our part. Sometimes we get sick of trying again and
again to get things right. Sometimes the people around us don’t support you.
Sometimes life isn’t fair. Sometimes you want to give up.
Don’t. Don’t give
up. Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on life. No matter what others
say, you always have choices in life. You have the power to choose how to react
to every situation in your life. God has given each of us a few things that no
one can ever take away. God gave us a brain to think and decide things for
ourselves. God gave us voices to speak out loud. Whatever happens in your life,
use your brain to make good choices. No matter what you have in life, use your
voice to make this world a better place.
Your brain and
voice make you powerful. You have the power to change your life and the world
around you. Make choices to improve your life and those around you. Be kind. Be
generous. Choose love over hate. But more than anything, don’t forget that God
has trusted you with power, with that brain and voice. Don’t be afraid to use
it. Stand up and figure out this life.
You are so powerful
that you have changed my life forever. You have taught me how big and beautiful
this world is and how each and every one of us is a Child of God worthy of
love, opportunity, and a chance at life. Experiencing Zambia taught me that there
is no such thing as “normal.” So many things I knew from the USA are just
different here. Instead of thinking one culture is “correct” or “better,” I’ve
come to realize that things are just different all over the world. So if you
think the world can’t change, there’s nothing you can do about something in
your life, or this is just how things are, you are wrong. Right now all over
the world, people are living their lives in millions of different ways. There
is no one right way to live life. The world changes every day. If you went somewhere
else, your world would change.
So change this
world. Make it better.
I may be far away
from now on, but I will never forget you. I will be supporting you, praying for
you, and hoping for you. In my heart, you are already successful, lovely,
inspiring human beings.
Your Teacher
