After a night of cats in battle and guard dog serenades, we began our first full day in Kingston Jamaica. What a contrast to the Blue Mountains! Kingston had bumpy roads like the mountains and people committed to their country, but Kingston is definitely the city. It has all the noise, traffic and smog as any city in the USA. It was without doubt different from the past 3 days.
We had breakfast at 8 am, as usual. Ms. Bennett provided us with an itinerary for the rest of our stay and arranged for orientation in the music room at Mico University College, where we will stay for the remainder of our time in Jamaica. When we finished breakfast, we headed over to the music room located on the other side of the dorms to join Ms. Bennett and Mico’s staff for orientation promptly at 9am. Ms. Bennett is one of the founders of KBC Learning Center. They are one of the organizations that LearnServe partners with here in Jamaica. Brendan began the orientation by leading us in an ice breaker that matched each person’s name with an adjective that begins with the same letter as the first letter of their name. Once we were done, Ms. Grant, I mean Ms. Regal Randee introduced Ms. Amazing Angela. BTW, I’m Magnificent Malik. Ms. Bennett began by sharing her life story, which involved her leaving Jamaica at the age of thirteen and migrating to America with her family in search of a “better life”. She also talked about how she and her husband have traveled back and forth to Jamaica for the last several years before eventually retiring and residing right here in Kingston.
Next we were introduced to Ms. Jamie Biggs, a recent graduate of MUC, whom now is employed at MUC as a Resident Advisor. Immediately, I thought about all the hardship I have heard since I got here and wondered why she worked so hard on her education but remains in Jamaica knowing how hard it is to make a living at this time. When she started talking about teaching, her excitement made it obvious why she stayed. She said she never intended to be a teacher and was more interested in biological sciences, but something drew her into the teaching profession. She explained that working with children who had difficulty learning because they lived in a home without their birth parents or struggled with learning, gives her a feeling of accomplishment. She shared many cultural things related to the classrooms in Jamaica to help us make adjustments that support what is already in place, like calling teachers/visitors with the title Mr./Ms. at all times. After her advice, she gave us a tour of the campus and a brief overview of her role at MUC.
Before I came to Jamaica, I only thought of Bob Marley’s music, spicy foods and bright colors. After being here for four days, I now think of people who are very proud of their history and culture. I now know that Jamaicans are selfless and love their culture. Jamie’s story and all the things that she does on a daily basis stuck out to me the most. She says she works from seven until two, but she stays until five voluntarily for the children’s benefit because teaching is her passion. Also because she says the kids are not really motivated by anyone to go to school and learn, so by staying those extra three hours, she can help the kids benefit from school because it is in the while doing something she is passionate about as well. She also stated that if you are passionate about something you will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Her words stuck out to me because it made me think about myself how I may or may not demonstrate humility? I also thing about how I demonstrate leadership (if any to my full potential)? Am I putting myself aside and being selfless to become a social entrepreneur? The answer is maybe not enough. Learning about Euton with the BMP and the Bennetts here in Kingston, is showing me that I need to step up to the plate. Starting to slowly get the whole “comfort zone” thing and being uncomfortable to learn to complete the task at hand. It has me thinking more deeply about what I am passionate about and ways to partner with the people in Jamaica in their best interest.
Malik Hodge, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School