Prep Class

Time has flown by here in Tanzania, for we are already on our final week of teaching. The fact that time is running out both saddens me and encourages me to push myself in giving my all, 100% of the time.

I am no longer teaching in class four, and now am in prep class for children ages five though seven. Prep class has been quite different than class four, but I still love every minute of teaching.

Beginning on Monday, I have taught interactive classes where both the students and I find ourselves laughing and learning with joy. Unlike class four, however, the knowledge attained by the first student to finish their work and the last is greatly varied. The teachers here work hard and are dedicated to their work, but often find themselves having to prioritize for the sake of the majority of the class, leaving behind the children who struggle.

It has become a goal of mine to help those students who find themselves unable to read and comprehend the material. Working one on one with the students has allowed me to realize the different ways in which children learn and reminds me of how important it is to teach with many different methods, enabling every student to grasp the concept.

Because I am going to be a senior in high school, I often receive the question, “what will you be studying in college?” There have been times where I have spoken about becoming a lawyer or doctor, but now, thanks to the service trip, I can conclude that I would like to work with children.

Each child learns differently, each child excels at a certain subject, and each child is affected by what they learn. This concept intrigues me greatly.

Another thing that I am eager to learn more about is the students’ past. Every child is born into a different home, each full of personal challenges and unique family dynamics. Learning about the student’s backgrounds before teaching them is crucial, for it adds purpose to education and value to your role in their lives.

It is close to impossible to learn every child’s past, for we only have a few more days here in Tanzania, but I have received information regarding the disadvantaged kids at LOAMO and have had the privilege of visiting the homes of a few of the children.

Knowing that most of the students at school live below the poverty line while working incredibly hard in school has only increased my respect and gratitude towards these students. Some students are HIV positive; others are currently suffering from malaria, while others only receive one meal a day, living in extremely vulnerable and poor conditions.

Despite these unfair predicaments that so many students find themselves in, the entire prep class is excited to learn and is overwhelmed with joy when answering questions correctly. It is an honor to be surrounded by such positive kids.

The students here at LOAMO have taught me so much, including how to find hope even in the darkest of times, to work hard, and to invest myself in education, for it will only help me in the long run.