I am really privileged

Today is the first day when CSMP 2010 started field work at CCA, and immediately God showed me how privileged but unappreciative I am. So when we drove into the parking lot, the first thought I had in mind was "oh this high school is not that bad." However, not until I talked to the students, and started tutoring with them did I notice that their learning environment is just a low quality stuffing under this nice pillowcase. And this really broke my heart.

First of all, they are really smart kids who are perfectly capable of learning, but the fact that they are here and the juniors are struggling recovering their credits for algebra 1 is a shock. Because when I taught them what to do, and tested them on the knowledge, they are perfectly capable of doing it. But a lot of them when they first asked for help, they couldn't even do -1 + 5. what a simple expression that I thought I didn't have to think to come up with 4. Yet, they had to try so hard and after multiple guesses to realize it's the same as 5-1 using the associative property. How can such simple math that I thought so natural for us be so difficult for them? They are not stupid, but they just couldn't do it. I was definitely immersed in an enviornment that is so encouraging and so specially prepared for my study in school, and if they are really trained their habits, knowledge, and are encouraged constantly, I believe they can be just as good as any of us on the team. On the other hand, the fact that it took me to grow this old to realize that it's a privilege to be here and be exposed to so much resource and help shows that I am definitely not thankful enough to my giver.

Another anecdote today is today when the first class was about over--close to 10:30, the chemistry student I was tutoring picked up so much interest for chemistry that when we were dismissed, She asked me if I could stay a little longer to help her finish the section. I cannot say no to her, even though I was mad hungry. Again, I was thinking why this kind of student would be required to do summer school for credit recovery. What kind of environment do they live in that they couldn't have peace doing what they would be interested in if they were given a quiet classroom like this one? I wanted to know her story. All the kids there are so precious.

Second of all, for myself, I realize how much I assumption I make in my mind about the people around me. I assume they think like I do, they live like I do, and not until I saw these students was I reminded again how different people are when we are only about 50 minutes far from each other. my high school was the biggest areawise in the whole state of michigan. We had everything, but these people don't have art, music, drama and other elective classes. I really need to ask people about their life, care for them. and have more compassion about what they are going through.

So overall, today was a good experience to see the life of poeple, and to see how privileged I am and how much blessing it could be for them fromt the little help I could give. This summer will be really good.