2nd draft. Be Brutal. No Ego to Bruise.
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 3:00 pm
I was approaching the end of my sophomore year when my closest friend called and asked if I wanted to move to the Philippines and work with him at a children’s shelter. I was surprised and tempted, but hesitant to take so much time off school. However, the prospect continued to fester in my mind. My semester ended and the decision was made. After a few months waiting tables and a little help from friends and family, Ryan and I were on a plane crossing the pacific.
In Cebu, Philippines, the average salary is seventeen dollars a month. Children are often left in front of churches or shelters because their parents can’t afford to feed them. These are things I had read before I’d arrived, but didn’t prepare me for the reality I faced when I landed. We settled into our new home. It was an aging gated complex complete with barbed fencings and a lonely security guard. We were given open-air bunk beds covered with a tin awning to keep out the rain. Though given the amount of noise it made when it rained Ryan and I both agreed that we might prefer getting wet.
We spent our days organizing activities for the children, reviewing homework and losing soccer matches to nine-year-olds. There were anywhere between 30 to 35 children at once, most of whom arrived malnourished, sickly and scared. I was surprised by the amount responsibility that was handed over to me so quickly and by our ability adjust to such an unfamiliar lifestyle in such a short amount of time.
We got to know the children; they were all positive, energetic friendly kids, thankful for having a place to sleep and food to eat. Unbeatable spirits, especially in the face of such extreme poverty. I Became close friends with a boy named John-Henry. He was fourteen, and hadn’t had much schooling before he came to the shelter. The children were required to study English as well as their native Togolag. But John-Henry struggled and came to me one afternoon and asked for my help. I organized a daily English study group for the shelter, though it was often just John-Henry and myself. It was difficult for him but he was dedicated.
Every day we went over the lesson he had in school, we did endless conversation and writing exercises. Through these drill we got to know each other well. I was able to see him improve and improve quickly. I found that watching John-Henry improve and feeling like I had played a part in it was one of the most rewarding experiences during my time there.
Apart from my tutoring and soccer games, my responsibilities ranged from teaching children how to tie shoelaces to filing paperwork regarding the children’s shelter records and adoption status. The business tasks forced us to deal with government agencies and complex rules and regulations that changed arbitrarily depending on whom you were speaking with. These experiences prompted me to think more seriously about pursuing a law degree (an idea that had been adrift in the back of my mind for about a year at this point). I had always had an interest in law and government and their torturous bureaucratic system forced me to appreciate how well ours does work.
The 9 months we had allowed ourselves quickly ended, we said our goodbyes and left the children to a new group of volunteers. I returned home, ready to finish school with a newfound appreciation and motivation for the opportunities in my life. Although I was hesitant to take time off of school it was a worthwhile endeavor. When I returned to my junior year of college at XXXX University I felt more prepared and confident than ever. I decided to explore law more seriously.
I became more active in the Pre-Law Society. I took as many classes on law and its governing political philosophies as I could. I also got a job in a law firm to gain a better understanding of the practical aspect of practicing law. With all these experiences I found that my interest in the law grew on what seemed like a daily basis.
My adventure in the Philippines humbled me and inspired me to be an active part of my community. And I believe that the study of law will provide me with many different opportunities to do so. I received an invaluable education while I was there became a better student and a better person because of it. My experiences in the Philippines continue to fortify my desire to pursue the study of law and the unique perspective it brought has helped to focus my goals and improve my life.
In Cebu, Philippines, the average salary is seventeen dollars a month. Children are often left in front of churches or shelters because their parents can’t afford to feed them. These are things I had read before I’d arrived, but didn’t prepare me for the reality I faced when I landed. We settled into our new home. It was an aging gated complex complete with barbed fencings and a lonely security guard. We were given open-air bunk beds covered with a tin awning to keep out the rain. Though given the amount of noise it made when it rained Ryan and I both agreed that we might prefer getting wet.
We spent our days organizing activities for the children, reviewing homework and losing soccer matches to nine-year-olds. There were anywhere between 30 to 35 children at once, most of whom arrived malnourished, sickly and scared. I was surprised by the amount responsibility that was handed over to me so quickly and by our ability adjust to such an unfamiliar lifestyle in such a short amount of time.
We got to know the children; they were all positive, energetic friendly kids, thankful for having a place to sleep and food to eat. Unbeatable spirits, especially in the face of such extreme poverty. I Became close friends with a boy named John-Henry. He was fourteen, and hadn’t had much schooling before he came to the shelter. The children were required to study English as well as their native Togolag. But John-Henry struggled and came to me one afternoon and asked for my help. I organized a daily English study group for the shelter, though it was often just John-Henry and myself. It was difficult for him but he was dedicated.
Every day we went over the lesson he had in school, we did endless conversation and writing exercises. Through these drill we got to know each other well. I was able to see him improve and improve quickly. I found that watching John-Henry improve and feeling like I had played a part in it was one of the most rewarding experiences during my time there.
Apart from my tutoring and soccer games, my responsibilities ranged from teaching children how to tie shoelaces to filing paperwork regarding the children’s shelter records and adoption status. The business tasks forced us to deal with government agencies and complex rules and regulations that changed arbitrarily depending on whom you were speaking with. These experiences prompted me to think more seriously about pursuing a law degree (an idea that had been adrift in the back of my mind for about a year at this point). I had always had an interest in law and government and their torturous bureaucratic system forced me to appreciate how well ours does work.
The 9 months we had allowed ourselves quickly ended, we said our goodbyes and left the children to a new group of volunteers. I returned home, ready to finish school with a newfound appreciation and motivation for the opportunities in my life. Although I was hesitant to take time off of school it was a worthwhile endeavor. When I returned to my junior year of college at XXXX University I felt more prepared and confident than ever. I decided to explore law more seriously.
I became more active in the Pre-Law Society. I took as many classes on law and its governing political philosophies as I could. I also got a job in a law firm to gain a better understanding of the practical aspect of practicing law. With all these experiences I found that my interest in the law grew on what seemed like a daily basis.
My adventure in the Philippines humbled me and inspired me to be an active part of my community. And I believe that the study of law will provide me with many different opportunities to do so. I received an invaluable education while I was there became a better student and a better person because of it. My experiences in the Philippines continue to fortify my desire to pursue the study of law and the unique perspective it brought has helped to focus my goals and improve my life.