7:15-Breakfast
8:00-leave for Mount Caramel High School
A fresh and early start to another amazing day in Belize. From Jaguar Creek we headed to the city of Succotz. The drive was long, but gave just enough time for a decent nap on the ride there. When we arrived it was almost as if a personal alarm had gone of inside my head screaming "WAKE UP!" Still tired, I chanted to myself "Game face, Let's do this!" And instantly I was awake and extremely excited to work with the children of Belize.
9:30-arrival and tour
The students started off by giving us an informational tour of their school. Specific students from student council, were chosen to participate with us and give us the tour. Being a part of student council, they were also role models and leaders of their school. During this tour they showed us their classrooms and gave a small speech about each class. Some of the classes offered there were wood shop, "food processing", computer lab, chemistry lab, biology, religion, gardening, and electricity. Religion, wood shop, and electricity stuck out the most to me. It was obvious that religion was very important to many students and was even many of their favorite class. Gardening class taught students how to plant and grow various plants. Electricity was a class that taught (mostly males) students how to properly connect and electrical circuit and possible provide electricity at home. (As one student did try to take his electricity skills home)
At this point I had no track of time because I was enjoying myself so much. I was realizing how great of leaders they all already were without our training. By them seeking a good education and accomplishing goals, it already makes them leader. What has really stuck out to me in the reading for this class has been the three E's. In this particular case the additional "E" for Education is what applied to the kids of Mount Caramel High School. These ids are bettering themselves by getting educated and wanting to make a difference in the community. When we asked them what they would like to do after graduation, many said they wanted to be involved in the law or politics. It is really our future generations that are important because they are the one holding all potential positive change. Education, and their classes specifically creates opportunity for sustainability and becoming self efficient. From the article we read by Collin Young he discusses Rising Poverty Rates. By these children becoming educated they are helping decrease these poverty rates. By getting an education they are no only going to benefit from it themselves but everyone around them will too. They are not ordinary school kids. They are leaders ready to pave the way and make a difference. They already have obtained so many leadership qualities prior, that now they are even so much better with our help. they are being educated in the basic necessities but what is really going to make them shine is their leadership qualities. These qualities will be put to use everyday and I believe that they will continue to grow into strong leaders that will hopefully make a difference in Belize, economically and environmentally.
This was my favorite day because of the interactions with the students during activities and individually. It was so much fun being able to talk to them one on one and find similarities between each other.
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