I Became a Student

On the first day we were to visit the shantytown, Dr. Celle said we would be would entering a “gray world.” And she was right. As we drove farther and farther from Miraflores, the green boulevards and patios brimming with flowers in a riot of color began to fade to dusty streets lined in ramshackle dwellings of gray, tired brown and beige. Dirt lanes wound up impossible hills in an endless moonscape of poverty. I felt overwhelmed by the scene and depressed by the conditions so many faced everyday. Then we arrived at the preschool that the UNO students had developed the past year, and everything changed again. The children were there to meet us, their eyes bright with excitement and smiles as dazzling as the sun. In their hands they held brightly painted placards welcoming us their school and their world. It was the same today in our second visit to work on the new module that will become a preschool and a nursery. There was great anticipation as we unloaded the supplies from the bus and began to work with the parents to apply sealant to the entire building and paint to the exterior. Believe me, it’s a vibrant color that reflects the vitality of this community of people who have worked so hard to create this opportunity for their children.

At first glance this environment does look pretty bleak, but there is great energy in this place. These parents have a real vision of a better future and are so willing to help us understand that even though those with power may see you as worthless, that doesn’t make it true unless you believe it yourself. They have been wonderful teachers. I am so grateful I’ve had the chance to be their student.

Paul Sather, Director, UNO Service Learning Academy