Taggart Bonham
7/31/2014: 7a – 12p
America China Exchange
Mr. Lee
Today was Day 20, the penultimate day of the summer camp. With
this year and my career as a teacher coming to a close, I am filled with a
bittersweet feeling. Teaching the children here is heartwarming. The tangible
impact that we make on their lives is amazing and has drawn me to return, year
after year. I have loved seeing the students grow over time into the people they
are today. This trip has changed me, just like how Jim (from 5th Grade) has
progressed from a eager but stuttering 3rd Grader into the incredibly outgoing
and competent camper he is today. Over my years here I’ve learned
self-reliance, leadership, and, obviously, a lot of Mandarin. I’ve grown from
the self-conscious 7th grader into the man I am today. And so it’s with great
sadness that tomorrow I will say goodbye to this camp for the last time. I’ve
had a tangible impact here teaching English. While the children’s linguistic
accomplishments were many, we taught them an arguably more important lesson —
to appreciate other countries and their customs. This program (originally
called ABC [America Bridges China]) started off as a cultural exchange between
our two nations. Over the years we’ve lived up to this mission statement by teaching
the kids of Qiaoqi about American culture and inspiring them to try their
hardest in their studies. I am extremely appreciative that I’ve had the
opportunity to return so many times over the years and have experienced
tremendous personal growth as a result.
No comments:
Post a Comment