Hi! I’m Jackson, and I was El Lider Del Día! I apologize about posting a day late; our nightly meeting ran a bit longer than expected due to huge amounts of love and emotions we had to share with each other.
After breakfast, we took a field trip to Vida Para Niños which is both an orphanage and a school. We colored with coloring books that Glimpsers donated and also played with the kids. Some groups also read books to the kids, and all of us taught the students ten words in English. At the end of the trip, we handed snacks out to the kids and thanked them for letting us spend our time with them. The visit was very inspiring for all of us and many of us were very emotional when we had to leave. The students really touched our hearts, and after we got back to our hostel a group of us got together and talked about our feelings, sharing deep personal thoughts and messages with each other.
After lunch, three speakers came to share their journey in education with us. Arelis Rosario Suriel is a volunteer teacher with the program Quisqueya Aprende Contigo, which helps adults learn how to read and write for free. When she was younger, Arelis’ husband did not want her to go to school, however Arelis insisted on attending, and finished a high school level education. Arelis and two of her students Marylin and Rogelio spoke about their opinions on the Dominican Republic’s education system. Arelis’ perspective on unity, education, and religion really opened our eyes and ears, and I believe as a whole our respect and passion for education grew.
From five to seven PM we taught English classes to both beginning and intermediate students. The classrooms at Padre Fantino had chalkboards instead of white boards, but they were still very spacious. We spent an hour beforehand preparing lesson plans and posters for our classes. Although I think many of us can agree that our plans were scratched since classes were nothing like we expected. As a result, we learned and experimented with improvisation and classes continued with more ease over time.
Being El Lider Del Día was very stressful in the beginning, but after a while I was able to lead more comfortably and overall grow as both a person and a leader with my experiences that day.
Buenos Noches!
Jackson Bores
Sounds like you are experiencing what gifts you have to offer! Maybe the peace corps is in your future 🙂
My heart fills with joy & my eyes with tears as I read this! So much to learn from.this trip & it sounds as though you are approaching it with an open heart and mind. I have no doubts that you lead the day just fine. I am so proud of you Jackson!!!!!!!!! Love you tons!
I am so proud of you guys! I am amazed by each memory and impact you guys make!
p.s
Sabrina Ayesha and Steph Curry had their baby!! Miss you tons!! Mayah says Hi!!
¡Hola Claudis! ¿Como estás? We hope you’re having fun and meeting new people!! We miss you and your no chill comments (: We can’t wait to see you soon!! *We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year* hahaha we were singing that song while writing this LOL adddiiooss!!!
Love, Ling Ling y La Gaviota❤️
Thank you for sharing such a vivid view of your day. You touched my heart with the details and description of what the group did and felt. We are so fortunate to have so many choices and resources here in America and I am so happy that you “young people of our future” get to see first hand how lucky we are. It is a blessing that you get to share yourselves and your wisdom with other children and adults in another part of the world. What a great gift the Dominican Republic is receiving and what a great gift it is giving back to all of us. We love the picture of you Gare Bear! XOXO Mom & family