BY KAY-ELLE DASH
 
This past weekend was Memorial Day. While at a get together with my boyfriend’s family we contemplated what soldiers mean to us. And in his family it means a great deal; his brother in law is enlisted & soon shipping of for his third time overseas. I have a brother who served for five years, and an endless line of members up the family tree. Anyway the conversation moved to other ways to serve. And it really has me thinking…
What is it to serve?
There are many definitions of service – most commonly it can be defined as the act of helpful activity. This being said, people provide service in order to help. In any small way someone is being helped. Where would the world be without Abraham Lincoln – the great emancipator; Martin Luther King Jr. who served for the rights of Black Americans; Susan B. Anthony who was a front runner on the women’s right movement; Mother Theresa whose kind acts for all are numerous; and even those less celebrated but perhaps the most brave of all our soldiers fighting in our war (whether you’re for the war or not you MUST acknowledge their bravery).
None of my acts may be able to serve as great as any of the aforementioned people, but in the teaching field (as that is what I am in college for) I could say I'm a solider of sorts – education is being under funded & underappreciated as of late in America. I am going into this field fully knowing the struggles facing teachers & kids who don’t want to learn or don’t appreciate learning – this is my war. I am constantly a front-runner like Susan B Anthony for Women & girls, but also educational funding & the Arts! So many children today don’t know how to value education because they don’t feel valued their selves – you cannot value something until you know what value is. I want to thrive like Mother Theresa to show these children love & caring & their worth & what their mind can do! I’ll fight for the betterment of their education just as Dr. King fought for the betterment of the lives of black Americas (and others too!), and last, I WILL emancipate these children from poverty of mind. Poverty & ignorance is spreading but because who is choosing to stop it? Children are forced to come to school until (at least) sixteen – teachers, WE HAVE THE POWER. Cultivate their attention, get them up for success, & give them the power to leave the streets & become something.
This is how I choose to serve.
P.S. In no way was I lessening the great sacrifice the military & their families make for us every day. – I thank you.
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