Education: The Gift That Never Stops Giving

My name is Kaitlyn Roukey and I am from Epsom, NH. I am a junior studying English, secondary education, and applied linguistics at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT! Next semester, I am more than thrilled to be studying at Victoria University of Wellington with the Institute for Study Abroad; this opportunity is one that I couldn’t pass up.

My ultimate goal after college is to help spread positive education globally. We are so fortunate, in the United States, to have the motivation and resources necessary to teach young people incredible things about the world around them. Starting during the first years of a person’s life, they are exposed to the art of literature; not only do they know what literature is, but it is almost a given that they learn how to interact with it. Unfortunately, this is not uniform throughout the world. Some countries don’t provide education for children at all. Others will provide such an inequitable education that actively excludes female students. In my opinion, this can and should be changed.

Students at a Nepalese orphanage (Kathmandu, Nepal).

During the summer before my sophomore year, I was given the opportunity to study abroad in various parts of Nepal. While I was there, I got to spend time in an orphanage with children of all ages and got to talk to them a bit about the world that surrounds them. One of the females, age 14, told me a lot about how hard it is for her to learn. She explained how she was never really taught how to read or write until she entered the orphanage when she was 8 years old. The only people she knew that went to school when she was that young either came from a wealthy family or were boys. She was still only learning, but this young girl really loved to read books.

Other younger students at the orphanage also expressed their love for literacy. They liked to read, write, draw, and sing whenever they got the chance. I always made sure to bring a few extra pencils with me on my visits because the students were always so grateful for them; although they loved to read and write, resources were very slim. My time spent here truly opened my eyes to something I had never experienced first hand. I have been inclined to help ever since hearing their stories.

Young boy reading along with me and others (Kathmandu, Nepal).

Studying abroad in New Zealand will help give me a more global perspective on education. Learning about schools outside of the US will give me a better idea of how to interact with unfamiliar beliefs and values. By spending time in New Zealand schools, I will have the chance to learn more about positive practices and expand my knowledge on effective education in a country other than my own. With New Zealand being one of the top countries in terms of education, I can’t wait to see these educators’ teaching philosophies in action and bring some of their ideas with me in all my future endeavors. I am thankful for my time as a student and can’t wait to help others gain such opportunities of their own.