As I find myself in the midst of the end-of-the-semester grind, I am looking more forward to spring and summer. I am having to remind myself now to take a little time away from the books and do something for myself. There is nothing wrong with doing this, but it is easy to forget about it when deadlines and assignments are staring me in the face. During the winter months here in Michigan, I am less active and my school work is the only thing I have to do. With summer peaking around the corner, I am beyond eager to get my work done and jump into the fun. As the semester goes on for any college student, the will power is draining and the ‘energizer bunny’ is slowing down. This does not mean that the effort is dwindling, but the desire for fun and freedom is creeping into the picture. School is my life right now, and it will be for the next few years, and this is the way I want it. Life is short, and no one should wish away the days. Although I am eager for summer adventures to come my way, I am more than happy to be living in the moment of today. Adventures will always be waiting for me, but I must be patient until I can take that leap. To keep refreshed and energized, myself, and others who find themselves in the same situation, should always remember to enjoy every minute. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2016
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Refugees are incredible people who must leave everything they ever knew and held so dear. They are forced out of their homeland because of unsafe living environments brought about by war, political upheaval, or other threatening conditions. Families flee for their safety in hopes of seeing another day. Refugees are longing for a sense of belonging and relief of living in freedom. Every opportunity refugees receive from loving and welcoming supporters provides them with the glimmer of hope they had only dreamed about. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was in prison and you came to visit me . . . Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Last February, I had the great opportunity of flying to Phoenix, Arizona to meet with refugees from all around the world. I did not know what to expect once I got there. To be honest, I really did not know what a refugee was. I soon began to understand what being a refugee meant and became empathetic of their riveting circumstances. I left knowing nothing, but I returned with a special place in my heart for refugees. The group I traveled with enjoyed this experience together and gained much insight from the numerous presentations and information provided to us. The non-profit refugee resettlement programs in the city work directly with refugees, helping them gain everyday skills and knowledge to live successfully in the United States. Churches and community members spend time with the new arrivals of refugees to make sure they feel welcomed. On one of the days, we were invited to a “Welcome to America” picnic with Iraqi and Afghani refugees. Our group decided we wanted to introduce the refugee children to face painting. As the kids arrived, we were showing them pictures of what we could paint. One little girl, who was only three-years-old, was less than thrilled with our efforts. Her face held a timid look, but she warmed up to the idea. As I painted a kitty nose and whiskers on her face, her big, brown eyes looked up at me, and in that moment we became friends. When I had completed her first face-painting experience, she thought it was her turn to reciprocate the favor. And so she did, by the time lunch was served, I was covered in pink and black face paint. This little girl, who had been through so much in her three short years of life, still had the innocence every toddler should have. She did not understand the importance of this picnic, but I did. This picnic resembled the freedom and leisure everyone should be able to access. The picnic symbolized strangers meeting from different placing and leaving as friends. Another evening of the trip was spent in Mesa, Arizona with a group of Vietnamese refugees. We gathered for our evening meal and carried on with light conversation. We joked about the weather being drastically different for us Michiganders as we had just left below-zero temperatures and three feet of snow compared to the sunny weather of Arizona. They wanted to know all about how our schooling was going and what our hopes and dreams were for the future. As our meal was coming to a close, one gentleman from the table excused himself briefly, and returned with something to say. What he said gave me chills and left tears running down my cheek. He had paid for everyone’s dinner, and continued to say this was his way of thanking us [Americans] for welcoming him and his family in this country. He was forever grateful for the opportunity this country allowed him to have of becoming an entrepreneur, and if it had not been for kind people, his family would have never seen their American Dream. The night was brought to a close as we sat around a table after dinner listening to their stories when they fled Vietnam in the 1960s. They each held our undivided attention for hours and no one flinched. Refugees come to this country having educational backgrounds and honorable positions in their home country. What people do not understand is that they are earning everything they ever receive once in America. They are not given anything for free. Their education has to be supplemented to be validated and worth something here. Refugees want to work and uphold a meaningful status here, and are more than willing to work jobs that do not comply with their prior training. Doctors and politicians have fled their home countries only to find themselves being janitors and maintenance workers. They are not taking jobs from any person; they are filling the position and level of job no one else wants at all times of the late night and early morning, and thankful for it. It does not matter to them that they are not living like royalty; it only matters to them that they, along with their family, are safe and have the security of tomorrow. The refugee crisis is a serious topic of conversation. That trip last year changed my perspective, and I think John Green says it best, so I am going to leave it up to him to further describe the inexplicable trueness of the matter. It saddens me to think of the millions of people living year of their life in fear or in a refugee camp. I wish everyone could have heard the information and stories I heard during that life-changing week. Refugees overcome so many obstacles in their life, and many of them, no person should ever have to encounter. Living in fear is not how anyone should have to live. "I remember as a child throughout the hunger, the fear, the cold, the unknown, each day wondering where we would lay our head to rest the next evening. I had to think of that line I had heard in church about the birds having their nests and the foxes their dens and burrows, but where is a child of man to lay down. And later when you come to refugee camps--and some people spend decades and much of their lives in refugee camps--you are living outside of space and of time, you have no roots, you have no past, you don't know whether you have a future. You have no rights, you have no voice, you have nowhere to participate in, you are not a citizen, you have no paper, sometimes you haven't even got your name, and you have to pinch yourself to reassure yourself that yes, I am alive, I am me. I am a human being, I am a person. Do I count in this world? I don't know, I'll wait until tomorrow." Refugees now hold a special place in my heart, and I think of them often. They forever made an impact on me, and I have a great appreciation of their courage, strength, and bravery. Some have found victory, and others are striving for such a thing they have only heard about, but never attained. Regardless of the stage of life refugees are in, I wholeheartedly hope for their safety and success on their road to refuge.
Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2016 Let me start off by introducing Malala. She is a strong and empowering girl who stood up for what she believed in, even when it put her own life in danger. Malala and her father promoted education for girls. Malala’s greatest opponent in her fight for education was the Taliban. She continued her efforts but became a victim when she was shot in the head by the Taliban. Although this setback was life changing, she was not going to stand in the shadows of defeat. This powered her drive even more and went on to make a full recovery, win a Nobel Peace Prize, and continue to fight for girls’ educational rights. Malala has made a difference and has continued to take an active role in being the spokesperson for girls in remote places who have restrictions placed on them keeping them from freedom and education. Amid the threats and dangers, she was committed to making a lasting difference and has not stopped since. This past Tuesday (March 8) we celebrated International Women’s Day. To some, this does not mean anything and some may not have known it was even a day to be celebrated. This day took on many different meanings. The simplest of meanings was described as a day to celebrate women for being just that. For me, International Women’s Day took on a deeper meaning. It should be a day to recognize women all around the world who are fighting for the same rights some women already have. Voices have been silenced, and the value of women is far less than it should be. This day is more to me than a date on the calendar; this is a day that is necessary to bring awareness and aid to those who need it most. It is hard to for me to celebrate a day for women while there are women still in bondage. Girls all around the world are being sold as slaves, abused mentally and physically, deprived of education, and living in poverty. All while these things are happening in other places, some girls are able to live free and not carry a worry or fear. This is an ongoing issue and is a girl’s reality every day of her life. The girls living in the United States are not exempt from this problem, but it is often shoved under the rug. The urge to forget about the issue at hand is great, but, by doing so, it is causing an even greater issue of furthering the need for education. Educating the public about the problems no one deems important enough to talk about is necessary, and without it, generations will become distant from and ignorant of the knowledge of inequality. Tying this all back to Malala should leave a lasting imprint on our hearts and minds. For those who already have the power and strength, it is our duty to raise our voice for the girls and women who cannot. We have to be campaigning for the people who have not yet realized their way of life is keeping them from an opportunity. Our society must advocate for education for all. Malala has not given up yet, and neither should we. She turned her tragedy into a triumph. Until every person, man and woman, have the same rights and equal opportunities, I cannot confidently claim success. I will forever have a hard time celebrating while others are hurting. I will continue my education to keep others from stopping me. I must do something for the people who have silence bestowed upon them. This problem will not be solved overnight. It is going to take plenty of time, patience, and power to make a lasting mark on history. Every person deserves the same rights of going to school and the opportunity to chase their dreams. Nothing should ever stand in the way of a blossoming person aspiring to be something great. I will continue in this movement until my voice is heard. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2016 Traveling is the greatest experience a person can ever have. The sensation traveling creates is undeniably unforgettable. I have had the privilege to go on a couple of extraordinary trips that taught me so much about the world and myself. Without the lessons I learned on these trips, I would not be person I am now, and I would not have the world perspective I hold now. While I realize not everyone can travel in the same capacity as others, a book can fill the void in the meantime. It may sound crazy to some. They may wonder and argue that it is impossible for a book to create the same sensation as physical travel. At one time, I probably would have agreed with these opposing people, but it was not until I came back from my travels and had an emptiness inside that changed my mind. I was longing to pack my bags, pick a destination, get on a plane, and explore until my heart is content. I wanted to see more; I wanted to learn more; I wanted to discover more. Then realization hit, and I knew exactly what my heart needed. Books. Simply, books. With books, I can go anywhere I want. I can go to historic places and learn about monumental events. The knowledge and insight captured within the pages of books mimics the thrill of traveling. Reading a book is powerful, and it can be just as captivating as walking the streets of any desirable destination. Reading, for me, allows me to escape the demands of school or every day pressures and slip into an imaginative state. Books hold the key to unlocking doors to unknown places. Adventure awaits within the pages, and entices readers to make those adventures a reality for themselves. Since returning from my travels, I have surrendered to books for providing me with the same thrill or sentiment. It is amazing to feel such an attachment to a book as I do of my memories. I hold a finished book just as dear as I do as souvenirs. There is something about a well-read book that shows a deeper meaning to life. Traveling and reading are equally important to life. If I could spend the majority of my life traveling, I would, but this is almost next to impossible. By reading instead of traveling, some may say I am settling, but I see it differently. As for me and my adventures, whether it be of a passport or a book, I will continue to travel through the pages. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2016 |
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