<p>Doing the “Right” Thing
Things can sometimes seem so black and white that there is nothing else in between the two extreme ends. Doing the right thing simply means abiding the law and joining charity. On the other hand, doing the wrong thing is doing whatever opposite of those. However, have you ever had second thoughts about something you’ve firmly believed in? Maybe there are no pure good and pure evil characters in the novel; maybe there are more paths than to simply go left or go right; maybe there is no right and wrong answer to any question asked… During the summer of 2011, I have learned that there is no definite standard, boundary or answer but rather things present themselves in many shades of gray. Instead of glorifying how many right things I have achieved, I’ve learned to take into account of all the factors that can affect the result and ameliorate the process.
I have dedicated every summer since the last year of middle school to teach children English in Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. Why would a ten year old boy have such muscular arms? Why do these children hangout at school all the time even when the classes are over? I was befuddled the first couple of days before I knew the answers. Of course he has muscular arms. He needs to carry three buckets of water to a home that is 3 miles away every day. And of course they would rather stay at school. Their houses don’t even have light bulbs for them to study at night and windows to block the thunder storms. I was so upset with their misfortune that all I could think of was what I can give them. In fact, that was what my entire team could think of- more presents, more food and more clothes. Instead of teaching them English, we spent all our energy and money on buying them material goods. They are so poor. I have to save them from being cold at night; I have to stop them from being hungry; I have to do the right thing. Little did I know, I wasn’t helping them and was definitely not doing the right thing.
In a week’s time, I noticed a depressing phenomenon- the children didn’t show up to class anymore yet they magically appeared when I took their presents out. All of a sudden, I found myself in a position where I was trapped in a qualm about my ways of doing the ‘right’ thing. I thought I was helping them. I thought they needed these material goods. I thought joining a charity and having a big heart was all I need.<br>
After a night of self-reflection, I decided to change my ways. I spent hours at night planning lessons and learning their languages so I could give them what they should have but don’t have - basic education. I was not there to show sympathy or to give presents. I was there to guide those who have talents, to help them find their confidence and to let them be seen by the society. A deck of vocabulary cards, countless English classes and bags of number. 2 pencils are ways of doing the right things. Not only was I able to keep the ten children in class but also did I find myself five more students in the classroom at the end of my volunteer service. It was one of my biggest accomplishments.
It is this volunteer work that taught me how to look at more than just one side of the story and that there are many levels of good and bad; it is the experience in these Asian countries that taught me how to be a leader and made other people respect you. It is a choice I made that shapes who I am today. I hope, with this mind set and understanding, I can contribute to not only the communities in Southeast Asia but also to those in North Carolina. </p>