Ask yourself what is the difference between helping someone and serving someone? This question really got me. I remember being asked this question my senior year of high school when a professor from a university came to talk to the students in our school's Teacher Academy chapter. I remember him saying, “Our goal should not be to fix people. Instead, we should bring ourselves to their level and show them that we are equal. Only then can we serve them. Service does not occur because someone is broken. Service occurs because we love them.” As he spoke, I was transported back to Monterrey, Mexico, where I immediately recalled an experience I had with an 11-year-old boy named Chuy back on a mission trip in 2014.
It was Chuy’s birthday and the day of his party. Chuy was very reserved, and I could see that even on his special day, he was being excluded by the other children in his home. It devastated me to see him being isolated from his siblings and peers. I knew I wanted to connect with him, but I didn’t know what to do. He didn’t speak English, and I couldn’t speak Spanish. I looked around the room and spotted a bag of toy trucks. I called him over and motioned to the bag. His face immediately lit up with excitement, and he immediately got up and walked over to me. He stood in front of me, almost silently asking permission to play with the trucks. I smiled and invited him to sit together in front of a concrete wall. We proceeded to play together for quite some time. His demeanor and body language completely changed. We didn’t speak. We didn’t need to. I realized, in that moment, what it meant to serve. I realized that Chuy wasn’t excited simply to play with the toys, but he was excited because someone made an attempt to include him, to play with him and to love him. After some time passed, the caregivers called everyone over to celebrate Chuy’s birthday with cake and presents. Once again, his face lit up with excitement and he stood up and motioned for me to follow him. When we approached the group, he looked to me and pointed to an empty spot next to him. Chuy wanted me there; he wanted me to celebrate his birthday with him. I realized, in that moment, the past 30 minutes of me playing with Chuy changed his life. He was happy. Leaving the children’s home that day was difficult. I didn’t want to leave the children, especially Chuy. But, as I was leaving, I thought to myself, “I made a difference in the lives of not only one, but 28 children,” and that is something I will never forget.
Like the professor mentioned, “Serving involves showing people that you love them enough to be on their level and to build a relationship with them.” Chuy wasn’t broken. He didn’t need to be fixed. He just needed to be loved. I knew from that moment on I wanted to do something with my life that involved serving children. I knew I wanted to make a difference in their lives and have an impact on them.
Before my senior year of high school, I was unsure about a career in education. I kept wondering if it was right for me or if I would be happy doing it. But when the professor came in that day and taught us about teaching and serving, I couldn’t keep my mind off of those children in Mexico. I realized, as an educator, I will be empowered with the opportunity to serve children every day, children just like Chuy. Seeing the expression on Chuy’s face that day when I acknowledged him and asked him to play transformed me and cemented my resolve to become an educator. Being an educator is more than teaching children math, science and reading. I want to be the kind of teacher children will remember when they grow up. I know that within me is the capacity to love children, to teach them and serve them. Every day teachers get to work with children and make a difference in their lives. To me, that sounds like the best job anyone could ask for.
