The past few years I have been anxiously awaiting the next year because those years were either disappointing or uneventful. 2018 I am pleased to say was different. 2018 was not easy, there was heartache and struggle but also love and adventure. Here are the few things that really impacted my 2018.
Family
Family is the biggest blessing I have and continued to have in my life. It is the thing that keeps me going on my weakest days. This year even though my family is now all separated by distance, we were still able to bond and be there for each other. In March, we all came together to watch and cheer on the twins’ basketball team get 2nd at the state tournament. . In April, we stood in solidarity as we said good bye to our beloved Papa and supported each other through tears and shared memories. In May, we watched the last of the Fab 5 graduate high school and celebrated with friend’s and family. The holidays were not the same as we were never all together, but we can reflect and laugh at past memories as we make new ones in the years to come.
Travel
After moving from Arizona in 2016, I had not traveled much which made me antsy and in 2018 the travel bug hit me hard. Troy and I were able to visit his mom in Florida during spring break. It was a fabulous time of sun, sand, waves, and relaxation.
During the month of July, I traveled to Tanzania which was probably the craziest most beautiful adventure I have ever done. The people I traveled with and the locals we met were some of the greatest most genuine human beings. I climbed mountains, danced with local school children, went on a safari, learned about a different culture, and played in the waves of the Indian Ocean. I learned to step out of my comfort zone and became less ignorant about the world. I know it can be expensive to travel but I encourage everyone to travel even if it’s just exploring a new town or city. We grow and become better people when we leave the comfort’s of our home.
Running
2018 was the first year since high school that I really took running seriously again. I had only done one race a year until this year. In 2018 I ran 3 5ks, a 10 mile race, 6 mile leg in a relay, and a half marathon. Even though my last race of the year didn’t go as I planned and I didn’t make any PRs I am still happy I raced more than I previously had in recent years. In 2019, I am running my first marathon and hope to continue to get stronger mentally and physically.
Started Writing Again
WordPress informed me today that I have been a member for one year. Even though I don’t write on here nearly as much as I would like, I am just so happy I started writing again for myself and sharing my writing with others. My goal since I was a little girl was to become a writer. I know I have a long way to go and need to get serious about my dreams but at least I started. I hope I continue to write, share ideas, and bring people together though writing.
Love
One of the best things that has happened in 2018 was becoming engaged to Troy. I never thought another human could make me so happy but he is definitely my person. I’m constantly stressed and overwhelmed, but this man is always there to help me pick up my pieces. He supports me on all my runs, crazy adventures, and encourages me to achieve all my goals. Even though we don’t like any of the same sporting teams, we still make a great team. Here’s to wedding planning and becoming Mrs. Gaul in 2019.
Photo by Moira Nolan Photography
I just want to end this sappy reflection post by saying thank you to all the people who have been reading this blog the last year. It has truly made my year to know I have people who support me and this blog. Overall, 2018 was a pretty damn good year. 2019 is going to be another year of change, new beginnings, and hopefully achieving goals.
The holiday season is upon us. There’s a lot of great things going on during this busy time. People shopping for others, volunteering, baking goodies for the neighbors, and supporting the community in various ways. There is something magical about this season especially when you’re a kid, but for me things started to change. The magic of the season started to disappear. I remember my mom never looking forward to Christmas and it always confused me as a kid. How could she hate a holiday where everyone was so happy and full of life? However, now I understand. The month of December seems to be a constant state of “go, go, go” without much time to just sit and smell the cocoa.
This month is suppose to be the “most wonderful time of the year” but for a lot of people there is not a whole lot of wonderful going on in their lives. The month of December is the darkest month and for many it is the start of waiting for sunshine to come back into their lives, both metaphorically and realistically. It may be a time for family and friends, but it also can make a person realize how alone they truly are especially if they have experienced loss in the last year or live far from family. Now with social media suffocating our entire existence, seeing everyone jolly can remind people of the things they are missing out on in their own lives.
This is also a time that can be of great financial burden. The expectation is to give gifts but who do you give gifts to and what do you get? If you randomly receive a gift from someone but you didn’t give them a gift it can turn into an emotional nightmare. Or if you’re a single parent somehow trying to make sure your children have a good Christmas even though times are hard.
I will be the first to admit I am struggling right now with getting into the holiday spirit. The last few months have been rough and even though so many positive things are happening I just can’t hang on to them enough. I see everyone getting more involved in work, church, and life but I am exhausted. I will get excited about something but then little things deflate what little energy and happiness I had.
It doesn’t help that even though I’m tired, I see everyone else doing what seems like literally everything all the time. Some of these people have way more responsibilities than I have such as children, grad school, or even another job yet they’re killing life and doing it with a giant smile of their face at all time. This is when I start to get the pit of guilt in my stomach. I think about how all these people are doing all these things to help their world out and here I am sitting in the dark with my cat hiding from human interaction.
Maybe it’s because I’m an introvert and this season of constant gatherings is overwhelming. I tell myself I am doing enough but it’s hard. It’s hard not to compare yourself when you are constantly seeing what everyone is doing all the time. When the world is in a joyous state but you’re not experiencing joy. I start to think that I’m just a Scrooge and need to get over myself and I know there is so much good going on, but I’m just not feeling it.
The holidays can be tough. If you’re experiencing holiday blues, I’m right there with you. There’s a lot going on and a lot to take in everyday. Even though there is so much that is merry and bright, sometimes I just need a silent night.
Growing up is tough. It’s a concept that was harder than I ever imagined because it’s something that can’t be explained. It is a thing that just happens and all of a sudden you’re sitting on the couch thinking, where the hell did time go? Am I really get older? Am I an adult?
When is one considered a grown up? Is it when you graduate high school or college? Get your first “real” job? Or is it something more complicated like the first time you experience loss, heart ache, or have to take responsibilities for someone other than yourself? Maybe it’s not one direct moment but a bunch of events that happen to give you the wisdom to know the things that can be changed and the things that cannot.
As I’m approaching my 26 birthday it doesn’t seem possible that ten years ago I was just turning 16 and thinking I knew everything there was to life. I thought it would be simple. Go to college, get a job, get married, have some kids and live happily ever after and I would accomplish all of this by 25. I was wrong, very wrong. In fact, right now the thought of having kids scare me, I still feel like a child at times, and I’m still confused on what I want to do with my life.
I thought going to college would lead me to my forever career but it just confused me more. There were so many opportunities out there and I felt like high school did not prepare me for all the career paths I could possibly take. What if teaching wasn’t the right choice? What if I was wasting my talents in something and there was another field out there that I should have explored more before committing to education?
I decided to stick with education and am currently in my 4th year teaching. Even though I enjoy working with my students I still doubt my career choice. Is this really what I want to be doing the rest of my life? Is the stress worth it along with the lack of respect for my career from society including members of my own family? Do I really want to be considered a “glorified baby sitter” while having more and more demands placed on myself and co-workers when I could be working in a more “respectable” profession that recognizes my hard work? These questions haunt me day in and day out. Am I really doing the right thing for myself? Yes, teaching is a noble profession and I am proud of the work we do but is this what I want to do forever?
I had a conversation a couple of months ago with a person who was also dealing with the struggle of not knowing what he wanted to do in his life. I told him the funny thing is, hardly anyone knows what they’re doing. The key to being adult is acting like you’re secretly not freaking out on the inside. This is why my mother is a saint. I’m sure when she was raising 5 kids all under the age of 8 and working nights she was slightly in a craze state but you would never know because she kept her cool at all times.
As our conversation continued, I had a light bulb moment. I told my him growing up is not about the career you decide to pursue or figuring out where you are going to settle down, but the experiences that happen along the way. I encouraged him to keep an open heart and explore any opportunities. Do not settle, always keep learning, talk to everyone, travel, and grow. When you realize there’s more to the world than the backyard you grew up in, that’s growing up.
I think of my own journey through adult hood and the things that helped me grow were the moments that took me out of my comfort zone. Sometimes I think I’m not doing enough or my life isn’t super exciting, but just looking back at the first part of my 20’s I realized a lot more has happened than I originally thought. I ran 5 half marathons, went to Ireland and England, moved across the country, got a tattoo, moved to another city closer to home, traveled to Tanzania, learned about new cultures, experienced the joy and heart aches of teaching kids who also taught me to be a better person, and recently got engaged. Life is pretty good when I reflect back. I’m doing alright.
I don’t think I will ever know what I really want to do when I grow up and that’s OK. The thing that I hope I will continue to do is be open minded, try new things, explore the unknown, and embrace change. Maybe by doing these things, the thing I’m meant to do as a grown up, will come naturally. Until then, I’ll keep my options open.
Recently, a horrible tragedy has hit the USA specifically, the state of Iowa. Mollie Tibbetts, a young lady who had so much more life to live, was murdered while running. When I found out they found her body and that she was attacked while running, I felt like throwing up. As a runner, I realized Mollie could have been me or any of my friends who frequently go on runs. Of course, I have read now at least a dozen news articles about how women can protect themselves while running and safety precautions.
Now, while I am flattered that people are so concerned about my fellow women who run I am also angry. I am angry that we are even talking about how women can protect themselves when we should be asking ourselves, “how can we stop males from feeling they can take advantage of any women?” This tragedy, is now another “women issue” when this is not a women’s issue but a male entitlement issue.
I have been running for 13 years and don’t plan on letting this event stop me from running. I am not going to let myself stop the thing I love the most and become afraid. When we let ourselves become afraid we are letting them win. I did not know Mollie, but I believe she would want us to continue to run and stay strong but let others know things need to change. Below you will find my 5 things runner’s worry about but shouldn’t have to during a run.
1.Fear of Running Alone
Even before Mollie’s death, I always told someone I was going for a run. I would jokingly tell my boyfriend that if I’m not back in a 3 hours something horrible happened and he should probably go look for me. I think I always said it as a joke, not because it’s a joking matter, but because it’s so horrifying that if you think about it too much it prevents you from wanting to go for a run.
I am a proud introvert and running alone gives me a sense of peace that I don’t always get when I’m running with others. However, every time I go by myself I always think of what would I do if something bad were to happen. I think all female runners think of places on their route they can go for help if they need it but we shouldn’t have to do this. We should not have to fear that someone is going to attack us but we do because it has happened too many times.
2. Being Ran off the Road
When I go visit my parents in rural Illinois, I run on country roads. I have been running a long time and know the rules of the road such as you run facing traffic. There have been a number of times by myself and with friends where a car will try to “scare us” and drive as close to where we are running as possible even when we are way off the road. The worse case was this male teen practically drove his truck into a ditch just to freak us out and sped away laughing.
I know not all drivers are ass holes to runners. I have had some great people wait while another car passes so that I didn’t have to run into a ditch. However, there has been so many times the car has plenty of room to get over but they don’t. We should all be able to share the road with runners, walkers, bikers, and vehicles.
3. Getting Things Thrown at You
One day I was running with a friend and surprise, another male threw a bag of almonds at us. Now, we joke about making a band called Death by Almonds but what gives people the right to throw objects at you? We weren’t in his way and were minding our own business but apparently he couldn’t mind his. Another friend had a person spit at them from a car for no apparent reason. There has also been cigarettes flung at runners from careless people who litter. It’s inconsiderate and rude.
4. Worrying about what you are Wearing
In high school, I remember it being super hot and the current administrator got mad that some of the cross country girls were running in sports bras. Many argued that the boys were allowed to run without shirts so what was the difference? It all goes back to females getting more scrutinized for what they are wearing. We shouldn’t have to worry about how short our shorts are or how we look in leggings when running. The clothes we wear should not dictate the attention we get. The clothes were made to run in not so people could make comments or stare. Which brings us to number 5.
5. Catcalling/Other Unnecessary Comments
The one thing that bothers so many female runners, and just females in general,is the catcalling. I have been called a bitch many times for ignoring males who make unwanted comments while running. People shouting profanity from a distance, people running up and shouting sexual comments from close by. It doesn’t stop and it has happened to most women I know. I don’t know of any person who met their significant other because they were catcalled and spoken rudely too while out in public. It makes no sense and until there are consequences for it I don’t think it will ever stop. Fortunately for me, I have only had to deal with the comments and not any physical altercation but catcalls are usually the start of something worse.
Women are not objects. Men are not entitled to speak however they want to a women or use them to their advantage. These cases like Mollie’s, are not a women’s problem. It is a male problem and until males start speaking up nothing will change. We are strong but we need allies from our male counterparts that can advocate for us as well.
Every time I run now, I will think about Mollie and those who have also been victims during a run. It will not make me fearful, but instead give me strength to keep on with the run. Speak out and be brave. Run for Mollie. Run for change.
This year, I am teaching a class called Math Boost. Math Boost is essentially a second math class for students who need just a bit of a “boost” to help them get caught up to their grade level peers. I am excited to teach this but know it’s going to be hard to get kids to “buy in” to an extra math class when most of these students probably hate math since they struggle with it. I am thinking of having the kids write me a short note on what they want me to know about them as a math learner or just as a person in general. The idea is to also share a letter I would have written as a 7th grader and then have them write their own. Below is my personal letter to what I wish my math teacher would have known.
Hello,
There are 3 main things you should know about me as a student. I hate math, I’m quiet, and I like when teachers tell me things privately instead of in a group. I’m sure there are more things you need to know but I’ll let you figure that out or ask as the year goes on.
The first thing is I hate math. I would rather poke my eye balls out with this pencil than do some math work but maybe you can help me get better? I think I hate math because it’s the hardest subject. I use to be good at it. In fact, I was the fastest at my multiplication facts in 4th grade and I thought I was good at math. However, in 5th grade everything changed. My 5th grade teacher talked way too fast and she wrote too small so I couldn’t see the board when she went over problems. I kept thinking, how was I suppose to figure this out when I couldn’t see? All of the other kids seemed to get the problem right away but I was always stuck and confused. Since most of the kids seemed to know what was going on, the teacher always moved on and I pretended to know what I was doing. One day, I was brave enough to ask her a question at her desk and she yelled at me for disturbing her. I never asked another question and continued to fail tests and quizzes. My parents got really mad and they tried to help me, but I just didn’t understand. I felt so stupid and this is why I hate math. I hope if you slow down and let me ask questions I can maybe understand things better this year.
Another thing you should know is I’m quiet. I always hate when teachers or students tell me to talk more. If I have something to say, I will say it. Sometimes I will know the answer, but I don’t feel like saying it aloud. I’m not dumb, I just only like to talk when I have an important thing to say. I will participate in class when I’m ready or feel confident in my answer. I already feel stupid in math so please don’t make me go up to the board unless I know my answer is correct. Some kids like being the center of attention and like to talk all the time, I don’t. I would rather stay hidden than be the one up front and center. If you give me some time to process and check my work before I have to write the answer on the board I might get my confidence back. I’m at an all time low, so please help me grow.
Lastly, because I’m quiet I like when teachers tell me things privately. The worse thing you could do is tell me I’m wrong in front of the whole class. It will make me feel like I’m an idiot and I won’t want to do anything after that. I always feel like everyone is talking about me, even though I know it’s probably in my head. Please correct me and help me do better but a conversation at your desk or written notes on my papers would help me a lot more. Also, if I have a question I might be afraid to ask it in front of the whole class so if I ask you later that would be make me feel better.
To conclude, the 3 things you should know about me is I hate math, I’m quiet, and I like conversations to be private. I know you have a lot of kids but I hope knowing these 3 things about me will help you help me. I’m hoping I start to like math again.
So yes, the ironic thing with all of this is I now teach a subject I hated as a kid. Thank God, I did end up with some great middle and high school teachers. My college math professor was the one who convinced me to minor in mathematics because I knew what it was like to struggle and it would help me feel confident in teaching mathematics in the future. I never thought I would end up as a math teacher but after 25 years I know I should never say I’m never doing something.
The key to getting people to trust and appreciate what you’re doing is to build relationships and rapport. This assignment is a way to “bee the thread” in what my students think about math class and how I can help them change their mindset and grow. A lot of my kids deal with some crazy things so I hope this assignment will help me connect more with my kids and adapt my teaching styles to their needs.
A month in a place thousands of miles away from home. A month living with 30 different people who barely know each other yet have one thing in common, teaching. This trip across the world to Tanzania has been life changing to say the least. In a time where I was contemplating if teaching was really for me, it gave me hope that education is where I find my passion and inspired me to do better. Below you will find my top 10 moments from my trip.
10. 4 hour bus ride that turned into a 7+ hour bus ride
Now, many may be thinking why did this bus make your top ten moments? Well, you see this was less than 24 hours of meeting everyone and I firmly believe that this bus trip helped bond our team together. My friend Jess and I literally shared a seat and everyone was squished to the max between bodies and baggage. However, with this being our first experience we still had so much anticipation of the month ahead of us. I remember looking out the window and watching the scenery fly by thinking, “Wow, I’m in Tanzania.” You see, the journey to Morogoro was a time of reflection. I could see the people lined up along the side of the road selling and buying goods and going about their daily lives and I realized we were about to become fully immersed in a culture that differed from our own. It was a good way to start the month, despite being uncomfortable. It really got me in a good mindset of reflection and self awareness.
Why yes, this bus is tilted. Don’t worry, we got it fixed eventually.
9. Not being prepared for a 2 hour cold spell, while waiting for lunch during the hike up Uluguru Mountains
Again, this seems to be a negative moment at first glance. At the time I was truly freezing, uncomfortable, and in a great need of warmth. The heroes of the group came forward as I saw my fellow group members and the hiking guides come to our aide. People were literally giving clothes off their back away to help keep others warm. The main guide led us in songs and chants to keep our spirits up. A lady literally slaved away along a fire to cook 30 people a meal and welcomed us into her living space. That is a common theme in Tanzania, especially Morogoro, people are so welcoming. They may not have much, but they give all they have to others.
7, All smiles after being given jackets from friends.
8. Tea Time and Experiencing Chapati for the 1st Time
In American schools, most teachers are lucky to have time to eat and even luckier if they have a prep period. In Tanzania, the schools I observed had Tea Time. Tea Time is a little less than an hour of tea and snacks. Students have a recess type period and teachers are able to relax, drink tea or coffee, eat snacks, and converse. Many teachers have classes of 50+ students so they also did marking at this time. Tea time was the first time I had Chapati which is a type of flatbread used for snacks or to go with meals. It is delicious and tastes almost like a fresh tortilla. It was definitely a comfort food while abroad. During tea time, we really got to know our teachers and enjoyed each others company.
7. Our Lovely Hotel Room
I had the pleasure of going on this journey with my good friend, Jess. We are now closer than ever due to sharing some interesting experiences. We stayed in a great place that was quite charming and above our expectations but we quickly realized we weren’t in the USA anymore. Granted, my Father has taken me to some sketchy places before, you know the ones that give you Bates Motel vibes, so the Hilux was heaven compared to some places I’ve stayed. The people were welcoming and became quick friends. At one point the air stopped working in our room and we were told to move rooms. Once in our new room we found bugs everywhere, it smelled of urine and body odor, and it looked neglected. However, because our hotel staff were amazing, they cleaned it and it was enjoyable. We even had hot water which we never got in the old room. However one late night, I was about to fall asleep when I head Jess screaming from the bathroom. Jess is notorious for screaming bloody murder when insects are around, so I assumed there was a bug. When she continued to scream I got out of bed to find water shooting out from the faucet which resulted in some confusion from hotel staff but it got fixed and all was fine and dandy. Despite blowing up water faucets, bugs, and cold showers, I really enjoyed the Hilux. It truly became a home away from home.
6. Jungle Speed
At night we had down time when we didn’t have conferences to plan. A few of us found games quite enjoyable and would play at night. One game was called Jungle Speed. It is a fast paced game where the goal is to grab this object in the middle of the table. When your shape matches another person’s shape. It got pretty competitive and intense. Even though I sucked, it was still fun and I have even bought the game for my classroom. The nights where everyone would just hang out and enjoy each other’s company reminded me of being back in college. You could hang out with your friends for no reason at all and it was chill and completely OK. No need for fancy plans or reason, just hang out to hang out.
5. Safari
As a kid, my favorite movie was Lion King. My poor Dad probably watched that every weekend with me but I don’t think he minded. Going on a safari was literally living the scenery of Lion King. It was the most surreal experience and I still can’t believe I was there. Our safari group was great. We bonded over the hunt to find all the animals and singing Toto’s Africa over and over again. The fact that we were apart of the animals’ home and not just in a zoo was crazy. Seeing a lion for the first time not in a cage was breath taking. They are such powerful and majestic creatures. The sunset and sunrise was so peaceful, until Joe started eating chips but that’s a story for another day.
4. Conference Days
Our main mission for going to Morogoro was to give the local teachers strategies they could use in their classroom. This was a challenging task, because when I first observed a classroom I had no idea how I could help them. Their classes are huge. Anywhere from 50 to 150 kids in one room. They were literally sitting on top of each other in some cases because there was no where else for them to go. How could I, someone who’s highest number of students was 26, ever help these teachers who were doing the best they could under these conditions? I also have never led or planned a PD for teachers so it was a whole new experience, but I learned a lot from it. With the help from my group, we were able to come up with some good strategies and prepare some excellent sessions. The best part of the conferences were how much our two schools were interacting with each other. They seemed to really enjoy each others’ company and even if we only taught them one thing, they at least know other teachers down the road.
3. The Hike and Waterfall
I thought I had been hiking before this trip. Apparently, the hiking I had done was a cake walk compared to hiking the Uluguru Mountains. It was challenging but beautiful. The landscape was breathtaking with each step we took into higher elevation. Reaching the waterfall was epic and so serene. The 2nd part of the hike was even more challenging, but the scenery was out of this world. It was crazy seeing villages up in the mountain knowing people live there away from the city and the world. I was struggling going up the steep parts and local women were carrying large quantities of fruit or water on top of their head like it was nothing. The views and villages was like something you would see on National Geographic. It was a once in a life time experience.
2. Sunrise on Paje Beach
When we went to Zanzibar, a group of us woke up every morning to see the sunrise on the beach. I had never felt so at peace as I did when I watched the sunrise in the morning. The busy beach was quiet except for the gentle crash of the waves upon the sand which was soft like memory foam, not rocky, like other beaches. It is one of the moments when my faith is restored. The calmness and beauty of those serene moments before the craziness of life starts brings everything back into perspective. You know you have met good people when you can bond over simple things such as the sunrise.
1. Connections that will last a Life Time
In one month, I bonded with more people than I have in a long time. People from all over the states, the UK, Canada, and of course the locals in Morogoro. The teachers of Morogoro didn’t know us. They barely understood why we were there but they accepted us with open arms and invited us into their lives. I have never met such a welcoming group of people in my life. We all come from different places, different cultures, beliefs, and ways of life but we all care about our students. We all know that in order to empower our students we need to do our best to educate them and give them the tools needed to be a successful adult. Though a month is short in terms of a life time, this month impacted the rest of my life. I hope these connections grow and we continue to learn from each other despite time and distance. The world is now a little smaller than it was a month ago. It’s our job to continue to make the world smaller for others by telling our stories and making our friends, family, and co-workers more aware of Tanzania and its’ beauty by combating stereotypes and speaking our truth.
In one week I embark on a journey of a lifetime. I have the privilege of traveling to the beautiful country of Tanzania. I am excited, nervous, and hopeful that this journey will be life changing and continue to spark my passion for social justice in education as well as “being a thread” to others in the states about my experience in Tanzania. To those who don’t know, Bee the Thread’s meaning is simply to bring awareness and unity to cultures and people who are different from each other. I firmly believe we are more similar than different, it is just we don’t always understand what we don’t know.
When I tell people I am going to Tanzania I get a few interesting responses. The first and most popular response is, “Wow, that’s awesome! This will be such a great experience and I am jealous of your journey.” Most people are super positive when I tell them about Tanzania and why I am going over there. It truly makes me so happy that most people are supportive.
Another response I get is, “Oh man that’s crazy, good luck. I admire you for your bravery but I could never do that.” Again, this response is mostly positive with a slight hint of “Larissa, you’re nuts but good for you.” It also is honest, which I appreciate because I am nervous but I know that the most exciting and life changing things happen when you go out of your comfort zone.
Lastly, I have had a few people look at me dead in the eye and say that I am a fool for traveling and they hope I return safely and not in a body bag, with Ebola, or sold into the sex trade. Most of these people think Africa is a country and didn’t realize Tanzania existed. These people in particular who gave me such a negative response also haven’t really traveled much or experienced things outside of the nice safe corn fields of the Midwest. They are unaware of the world that exists outside of their home which is fine, they just don’t know any better. I can’t expect everyone to understand what they do not know. A lot of the information people get about countries such as Tanzania, is little or if they do hear things it is negative. This is one of the reasons I am traveling. I want to show people that the world is beautiful and we shouldn’t assume the worse.
Now, I am not ignorant of the dangers of traveling. Bad things can happen. A lot could go wrong. I would be lying if I hadn’t thought of all the million things that could happen to me, but bad things can happen anywhere. I was hit by a semi a year ago not even 10 miles from my apartment and could have died. Am I still nervous every time I drive? Yes, but I don’t let that control my life. At first glance, the neighborhood I work in looks sketchy and “dangerous”, but I go to work every day because I know my kids need supportive adults who care and know there are some great families who live in that neighborhood. I run on the bike path, even though I have been harassed a few times by men, but if I stopped going they win. My point is, there are bad things and people everywhere. It doesn’t just happen in Tanzania.
We are scared of what we don’t know. The more we experience things outside of the safety of our own homes, the less fearful we will be because experiences combat ignorance. Whether that experience is traveling, talking to someone who thinks differently than you, or even just reading about a different religion or culture it can help create a bridge to fight stereotypes. I hope that when I return I can share my experiences and make people a little less scared of the unknown and more educated on the diverse beauty of the world.
Disclaimer: This is what I have observed. I do not think for one moment ALL people who are Conservative/Pro Life Agree with what is going on on the border. I know there are more good people than bad but I have seen hypocritical things that confuse me and below are my thoughts on the issues.
I was born to a Catholic family. Irish and Italian Catholic to be exact, so my family has always instilled Catholic traditions and values while raising my brothers and me. As a Catholic, I was told the first day of Sunday school that God loves us all and we treat all life with respect and love. So naturally, I grew up with a Pro Life mentality. Abortion was murder and any act of harming another human was wrong. I still believe this. I am Pro Life. But as I got older, I realized Pro Life for some people only matters when it comes to unborn babies in a womb. There are many people who strongly believe in being Pro Life yet, are some of the same people who do not want us to help those who need it.
There is a tragedy that is going on in our country that we cannot ignore through blissful eyes. As many know, children at the border are being separated from their families. Children as young as two years old are being taken from the arms of their mothers and we as a nation are letting it happen. This is not a political party issue. This is a basic human rights violation and instead of stopping the problem all I’ve heard is the President blaming the Democrats and the Democrats blaming the President. I do not care whose fault it is but people in power need to stop blaming each other and do something to stop this horrendous act.
I do not understand how Attorney General Jeff Sessions quotes Romans stating, “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves. Consistent and fair application of the law is in itself a good and moral thing, and that protects the weak and protects the lawful.”
When this “law”( which is not a law but a the Zero Tolerance Policy enforced by the Trump administration) is not protecting the weak. It is destroying the weak who come here for refuge. These families who are looking for help, hope, and compassion yet are getting punished for trying to better themselves.
Yes, I understand people fear our borders are not protected enough, people who come here illegally are not paying taxes, and the “wrong kind of people” such as gang and drug lords are coming across our lines illegally, but this is a rare case. Many families trying to cross the border are trying to apply for asylum. Asylum is granted to anyone who is trying to escape persecution in their home country. If all of a sudden our politicians want to start quoting the Bible (which we shouldn’t because religion should have nothing to do with politics) they should also probably look at Leviticus, ” When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (Leviticus 19:33-34).
Even if we are not allowing families to cross, why in the world are we separating their children? This concept does not make any sense to me. As a 25 year old, I would be devastated by being taken from my family, so how would this impact a small child. Who is caring for these children? Are the being clothed? Cleaned? Fed?
Yet, people are OK with this. The same people who quote biblical verses to help enforce their policies do not want to help the outcasts and poor? How does this even make sense? As Christians, we are often called to ask ourselves, “what would Jesus do?” Would the ever compassionate Jesus really deny children from their parents when his own parents were refugees and in need of help?
If we consider ourselves to be Pro life, we must think do we support all life? Do we support the children in the womb and on the border? Do we care about those who are being persecuted for their race, religion, gender, sexuality? Do we advocate for justice for all, even those in jail? We cannot be Pro life if we do not support all life.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'”(Matthew 25:25-36)
As soon as February begins, I start to get the following questions from my students, “Miss Morrissey, ya get your taxes yet? What are you buying with your taxes?” The first time I heard this question last year I was so confused. I hadn’t even thought about getting a tax return. I was probably more concern with how many more weeks were left until Spring Break. It took me awhile to realize why tax season was so important to my kiddos. It meant they had an extra opportunity thrown into their lives to maybe buy new shoes, clothes, or get their nails done. My kids don’t get thrown a lot of opportunities their way and the refund from their parent’s tax return gave them a chance to get something extra.
When I was in middle school, I had no idea what a tax return was or that my parents made some extra money because of it. The only thing I knew about taxes at age 13 was it made anything I bought more expensive so I had to always remember to include tax when buying ice coffee. My students however know a lot about taxes. They know exactly when their parents’ W2s come in and when they should expect to see their refund in the account. For my students, tax season is more exciting than Christmas.
It was really mind boggling to me how concerned my students were about tax season but this wasn’t the first time my students had knowledge that I didn’t have when I was their age. I remember when I taught summer school we were talking about the 4th of July. I asked the kids why we celebrated the 4th of July and no one knew the answer. However, when we were talking about the constitution most of my students knew about the 4th amendment. I vividly remember one student shouting out, “Oh yea that’s the thing that makes it so police can’t come into our house unless they have a warrant.” Again, this statement shocked me and made me realize how ignorant I was to the lives of my students.
I mentioned to a few people how interesting it was that the kids in class knew all about tax season and how excited they were about their parents getting their returns. Some people made comments about how “those people” don’t know how to use their money efficiently or effectively and always blow it away once they have it.
This made me angry. Why should my students not get to enjoy the finer things in life just because they come from low income families? Just because they grow up in poverty doesn’t mean they should be forced to buy off brand items all the time or never enjoy luxuries such as getting their nails or hair done. What right do people have to judge others for how they use their money when they have it? I cannot even imagine the life my students have so I can’t judge what they choose to do or not do with their money.
Sure, would I rather have my students ask their parents to buy them pencils for schools with their tax return? Yes I would, but when it comes down to it if they decide to buy the latest Jordans with their parents’ money and it makes their year I’m totally fine with that. My kids don’t always have a lot and they deserve any happiness that comes their way.
Bee the Thread 