Lindsay '18 - Cullman Scholar in the Galapagos Islands
Created in 1983 by Hugh Cullman '42, the Cullman Scholarship Program supports students in off-campus study opportunities. During the summer of 2017, nine scholarship recipients pursued courses of study in topics ranging from hands-on Animal Rehabilitation in South Africa to serving as a medical intern in Mongolia. Recently, Lindsay '18 gave a presentation at All School Meeting about her Cullman Scholarship teaching English to high school students in the Galapagos Islands.
Here’s Lindsay:
Over the summer I traveled to the Galapagos Islands for three weeks to teach English to high school students. My teaching schedule was from 7:00 am until 1:00 pm daily, Monday through Friday. Through this experience, I am surprised to report I learned just as much, if not more, than the students I was there to teach. Aside from the expected improvement in my Spanish language skills, I learned how to be more independent and what it is like to live in a developing place.
The school where I was teaching had many classrooms, each containing shattered windows, broken chairs, one white board, only a few desks, and very limited school supplies. While these conditions may seem harsh, they did not have much of an effect on the students, who came to school each day with positive attitudes and a desire to learn. They were grateful for everything they had and valued the importance of education at a young age. They each have big dreams for their future and know that their living conditions will not hold them back.
The positive outlook of the student community was extremely humbling. I learned that it is not the learning conditions that matter but it is the actual content of what is being taught and the attitudes of the community that can shape a school. This year, I found that when returning to Kimball Union’s beautiful campus after summer break, I had a new appreciation for the opportunity to attend private school in the United States. I have truly grown as an individual and the experience was life-changing.
Thank you, Lindsay, for sharing your experience and stay tuned for more Cullman Scholarship news.
