Through my volunteer and travel experiences, I have learned, like the great American educator, Ernest Boyer, said, that “we belong to the same human family, the family that connects us all.” I want to instill this message in my students so that together we can build a greater understanding of the universal experiences we all share as human beings, and how we can use those experiences to make a positive impact in our community. I am convinced that our compassion grows and our ignorance and prejudice decreases when we seek to find what unites us instead of focusing on our many physical and cultural differences.

Since we are part of a greater human family, I want to impart on my students the importance of service to one another. Especially in today’s consumerist and “me” culture, I want my students to learn that a meaningful life does not focus on what you can get for yourself, but rather how much you can give to others. I want them to know and believe the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”