My Reason For Teaching
The following contains my reason for going into the teaching field. It contains a letter to my deceased step-grandmother, written to her as if she were still alive.
Dear Esther,
Hi! How is everything with you? I’m doing well. I am still here in Ecuador on vacation. I can’t believe I’m actually here. The people are so friendly. The family and I only communicate in Spanish, but they are trying to learn English.
The main reason I’m writing this letter to you is to discuss the emotional experiences that I have had here in South America. It’s very sad to view the young children along the streets. Their faces are painted with artificial smiles. When they look away, I can see the pain, the loneliness and the empty feeling of no one to talk to. Many of the children can’t even communicate with others, not because they are shy, but because they lack either education, self-pride or just a caring person to listen.
Yesterday, I met this little boy. He lived on the coast of Ecuador. I heard many of the other children mocking him because he only has use of one arm, and he’s mute. The little boy rode his bicycle with a cart on it, back and forth along the walkways. The other little boys transported tourists approximately two miles to the beach for twenty-five cents each. However, this little boy would just watch them earn money as if he admired each and everyone. As I approached the children, each of them begging me to ride with them, they yelled “Conmigo, conmigo”, which means “with me”. I turned to that boy off to the side, who sat there with his poor looking cart and I said “Por favor” which means please. His face burst with a gigantic smile like I have never seen before.
We arrived at the beach, and instead of him looking for another customer he stood by my side. So we clasp hands as the two of us walked over the burning sand and into the water. We both enjoyed the waves in the ocean and we exchanged laughs. Just then he pointed at me and made a noise like a steamboat taking off. I thought that maybe he wanted to know my name so I used sign language to symbolize it. He then repeated it. As the day went on, I demonstrated several expressions using Sign Language. He repeated each and everyone. I felt as if this boy’s soul was like a swimming pool without any water and he would take any drop there was.
After about an hour, I turned to the boy and said “Vamos a comer”, which means lets go eat. After all, his structure looked like only a skeleton with skin. We enjoyed our meals together and walked away feeling satisfied. It was getting late so I had to get back and of course you know who drove me back with his bike. I got off the cart and gave him, five dollars, which he wouldn’t take at first. He smiled and signed “thank you” or as he might know “gracias”.
After this experience and several others that I have encountered, I decided that I enjoy doing this sort of thing for people, I don’t mean giving monetary units. I feel self-satisfied by offering support and just teaching someone something that provides them with a feeling of accomplishment. That’s why I’ve decided to go into the teaching field. Anyway, nanny, I just wanted to write this letter since I was thinking of you, and you fill my pool. Take care of yourself.
Love,
Lisa
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