My school has come to completely upset me. Not because of the people or the teachers, but because of the administration and campus ministry. The Christian Leadership class during Lent challenged the school to raise $20,000 for clean water in various third world countries. Now, I'm completely for helping out those who are less fortunate than us, but why are we starting another fund to give money to when we're dedicated the last three years of my high school and years before me to Invisible Children. I feel as a student I am much more compelled to fighting the idea of child soldiers and the LRA rather than raise $20,000 to donate to clean water. Please don't get me wrong that I'm a cynic who doesn't understand that clean water is necessary for every human being to survive, because I do, I really get it. But the Christian Leadership class didn't even present to the school what fund we were donating to, where exactly and what the money was going to be specifically used for. I would've felt ten times for compelled to donate if I had all these facts spelled out for me. Sadly, they weren't and the constant asking for money seemed a little to much to a student who's parents pay the full tuition of $8,500 times two for her sister as well. The administration attempted to bribe the students with chocolate and other incentives for donating, yet I cannot recall when the winners were announced for the other incentives besides the chocolate.
My freshman and sophomore year the school community as a whole was completely dedicated to the Invisible Children. The Campus Ministry planned various events, such as screenings of Invisible Children and DisplaceME Day. DisplaceMe Day was probably the most eye opening experience I've had in the past three years, besides elfing at Metro Catholic. DisplaceMe Day happened in April of my freshman year. You were only allowed to bring what you could fit into a garbage bag, you could only wear the clothes that were on your back, and your only shelter for the night was the cardboard boxes supplied by the school. No food and water besides the traditional African food that was prepared for us by Campus Ministry. We had a "hut" which was the only other form of shelter that protected us from the "elements." Once everyone arrived, it was a beautiful night, that is, until it started pouring rain. We all made our fun, we even had a slip 'n slide made out of plastic. Although the Campus Ministry wouldn't let us sleep outside, we still slept in incredibly uncomfortable conditions; all the girls at DisplaceMe Day were smushed into a classroom. We were able to go to bed a 1am and forced to get up at 7am to pray and clean up, because "The child soldiers had to leave the area they slept in ASAP in order to not be captured by the LRA." I've never had a more eye opening experience than that night in April. I've begged the Campus Ministry to continue hosting DisplaceME Day, but they say its a "liability." What's a liability? Letting students see for themselves how much they actually have? Letting us realize how truly blessed we are for living in a free country? Having us experience what a day is in the life of a child solider or a child refugee? Come on now NDCL, this is absurd. Pat of our mission statement states, "Like Mary who gave Christ to the world, NDCL prepares leaders who transform the world by doing the truth in love." Doing the truth in love how? We're not being socially conscious of all the heartbreaking events going on around the world. We need to take a stand for the children's sake and Uganda's sake.
2 comments:
I REALLY SUPER LIKE THIS BUD!! umm so i here were in the same prom group?? do i hear rowdiness about to happen?? YES PLEASE :)
thankkksss zachhh!
yessss i hope so <333
so rowdyy!
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