Making a Difference

If my contribution to La Universidad Libre (where I’ve been teaching for the last 10 months) could be measured in chocolates and goodies, I’d say I contributed rather a lot.  So far this week my students have absolutely showered  me with everything from arroz con leche to hand-written cards to endless cakes and chocolate bars.  Just what I need right; my dress for the wedding in June is what size?   

Wednesday

Unfortunately, chocolate is not a legitimate currency for measuring impact, change, or knowledge exchange.  Helping someone can be a tricky business.  Good intentions are not sufficient.  Sometimes we make a huge effort, we feel that we´ve done well, but actual notable change either in performance, behavior, or some economic statistic goes unachieved, falls short.  It`s like the old cliché of teaching someone to fish rather than fishing for them.  But even a detailed instruction manual, a face-to-face demonstration, or 2 semesters teaching still may not be enough. 

This is one thing that has always frustrated me about volunteerism and non-profit work.  Sometimes, despite everything, it can be a lot of “feel good” and technically not so much “do good.” 

So has my being here for a year made a difference?  Any difference?  That´s what Fulbright gave me the grant for right? 

Well I haven´t been sitting around on my ass that´s for sure.  I`ve poured hours, days, weeks, months of my time into “doing good,” but is there change? 

I honestly don`t know.  I haven`t published anything official (yet), didn`t affect any large-scale organizational change within my university, didn`t change any student`s life, didn’t come close to alleviating poverty, didn`t didn’t didn’t!  

 But I did something.  The following thought sounds annoying to me as it toggles in my brain, as I think it, as I type it.  But it rings true.  Perhaps my greatest contribution this year has been character.  I’ve tried to lead by example in showing my students to have a positive attitude about knowledge and learning, about English and opportunity, about critical thought and challenge.  I’m not a trained teacher, but I have a genuine love for school, the acquisition of knowledge, and the conscientiousness of being a student.  How I transferred the importance of that through grammar, vocabulary, and oral exams, I can’t be sure.  But I think I did. 

  

I “feel good” about my efforts, now let’s just hope I’ve “done good” to boot.