Over the course of my research on World Relief, what
stands out to me the most is the fortitude of the refugee high school students.
Regardless of what country and what type of conflict these kids have left
behind, each must bear the burden of emotional scars while simultaneously navigating
a completely foreign new life—foreign in every sense of the word—and they each make
it work. It’s hard to put myself in their shoes. Most of the kids come here speaking
little to no English, but they learn so quickly. They work hard, study hard,
help support their families, and they help each other so much. Kim Orchard, the
guidance counselor for the WR students at West Aurora, facilitates adjustment
group meetings for the students to discuss, seek advice, or vent about issues
they face. Imagine an English-speaking
counselor, a French-speaking African, an Arabic-speaking Iraqi who translates
for a Bhutanese in Spanish so the Pakistani can understand…you get the picture.
Given the level of trauma so many refugees have experienced, they certainly
deserve the chance to begin life anew in typical American towns such as Aurora,
IL.
Scout Finch was one lucky little girl. The wisdom bestowed upon her by Atticus surely helped her navigate through some very trying times. But Scout and her brother Jem aren’t the only people to learn from Atticus’ advice and life lessons. Anyone who reads To Kill a Mockingbird learns the importance of one of life’s most valuable soft skills: empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings and emotions of others. My job as a high school English teacher entails working with students to become better communicators through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. But studying and discussing literature can do so much more. It’s vital that young people today develop empathy towards others in order to combat the polarization, discrimination, and intolerance currently at play in society. The study of literature and the lessons it imparts can help build empathy in our leaders of tomorrow. Recent studies on empathy have shown alarming results. Fo...
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