A couple of weeks ago I had my first day doing fieldwork at a Public High School. Right after I finished, I rushed to school as I had a meeting in the Biology Club. As I came in, a lot of people greeted me, including a couple of people I had met in previous classes. Since I was in my "teacher's" clothes, you know: trousers, button down shirt, and dress shoes, some of them started asking me why I was dressed like that. As passionate as I am about what I'm trying to achieve, I started telling them about my experience and the daily challenges the profession brings, in dealing with youth now a days. As expected, they gave me looks of skepticism and let me know how crazy I was in thinking about that profession.
However, I became even more excited when one of these classmates told me that he was also doing a Major in Biology and wanted to become a Secondary School teacher. My full attention turned to him, and I started inviting him to apply for a current scholarship that was specific for our case. He politely said that he did not want to apply because his plans were quiet different than being a teacher in a New York Public School. My curiosity grew and asked him about his plans. He then went on to explain that we was doing all this school process because he wanted to give it back to his community.
He went on to explain that he belonged to the Bruderhof community, which is located in Upstate New York, and that he had already some experience teaching kids there; therefore, he is getting a Degree in Biology to get the content on the field, and then go back and teach the subject with all the background information he is acquiring.
My encounter with him was very inspiring and made me ponder on how important it is to give freely what is given to us freely (Mat. 10:8). Our communities, regardless what they are, or the kind of people that conforms them, should be one of the main reason why we, as Christians, should be eagerly pursuing a Degree. Often times, our careers serve as mediators to access people, and therefore they will open the doors to share the gospel. Regardless of the field, whether Law, Social services, Medical, Business, Media etc, our sole focus should be on glorifying God through them and to always understand that: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning". James 1:17.
With this article I want to commend my friend for having such a pure heart in to looking for the things that are above. God bless you brother!
