Barack Obama & the Nobel Peace Prize - a child's perspective

When I tutor or lead my book group at EHS, my biggest challenge is showing relevance. What does the material being taught at school have to do with the student's experiences in life so far? Why should they care?

One recent assignment had to do with Barack Obama's surprise win of the Nobel Peace Prize, why he won, what the committee's reasoning was for their choice and who else historically has won. The student has superb memorization ability, remembers what the article covers very well and can repeat it back easily. The article talked about how Barack Obama negotiates well to bridge differences between nations and has made a strong stand for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.

The last question on the homework was whether he agreed or disagreed with the decision. I found his answer quite profound and utterly relevant to a young person's life. He said that Obama said that if kids are not doing well in school, it does not mean they are stupid but they need to study harder and put away the DS (electronic game). Apparently, the school showed the video of Obama's speech.

While it did not match the committee's reasons precisely for giving Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, clearly Obama reached children, or at least this one, when he gave that speech. I saw that Obama had bridged the gap between himself and this student (and any child will tell you that most adults don't listen well to children) with a powerful, actionable message. Even if you are struggling in school, you can learn if you work harder and avoid distractions.

I could take a lesson from what that student and Obama said myself at times. It's amazing how much I learn when I'm teaching these students because they see from such a different angle than I do, out of their own experiences. Wow!

Volunteering at EHS and Giving Back Time

Volunteering is, for me, a way of giving back to my community and my world in gratitude. It make my life richer along the way. I believe that giving money alone is great but not enough so I give of my money and my time. It keeps a balance and everything in perspective, whether my life is easy or hard in that moment. Today was NY CARES day when volunteers go into the schools and paint murals and clean up. I have also, from time to time, worked with Habitat for Humanity and even got my photo taken with Jimmy Carter at 135th Street once

EHS stands for the East Harlem School at Exodus House, an amazing middle school on 103rd Street with, in my unbiased opinion, extraordinary students. I have tutored there for 11 years and led book groups for the last 3 years, as well as acting as chaperone for trips and leading after-school programs periodically. EHS was started by my friend since high school, Ivan, and his brother. I went by to say, "Hi," and Ivan pulled me into their assembly where the students (ages 10-14) were learning about NGOs. I got a tour with two students and fell in love and the rest, as they say, is history.

To work with the students makes me think, how can I explain these ideas clearly? What is the key to helping this child learn? How can I make books come alive for them the way they do for me? What are they passionate about? And with math, which I am not excellent at, how do I teach the building blocks when it isn't easy for me either?! How can my experiences help them discover how to study, read and do their homework better? What makes their studies relevant to their lives and how can I communicate that? When I volunteer at EHS, my interaction with the students enriches all of us.

What is your passionate commitment in the world? I've never met anyone who could not think of some place or community where they really wanted to contribute when I asked them. For one IT guy, it was a computer lab. Volunteering takes time but it's also fun and rewarding. If you aren't already, try it for yourself and see.