For Volunteers : Volunteer Stories

Poverty: Striving for Riches

by Joe Kilmade, Lasallian Volunteer, San Miguel School of Tulsa

On a Tuesday in January, the San Miguel School of Tulsa went on a field trip.  As a result, there was a schedule change.  While explaining the alterations to my students, they became upset because it appeared they would miss their weekly swimming lesson.  When I asked, “Do you really think that 30 minutes in a pool is more important than my English class?” one girl commented, “Yeah, we pay the swim people money and you just work for free.”  This response contains a not-so-uncommon attitude among my students, that is, that money dictates all forms of wealth, be it swimming or education, and everything in life can be broken down into dollar signs.

Being rich, for the majority of my students, has no other meaning than possessing material wealth.  Their home lives teach them to value tangibles—cars, iPods, clothing, and video games—while they unknowingly exist in a state of poverty that limits their access to these things.  As a result, they have developed a me-against-the-world attitude towards life; they fight to attain and maintain material wealth at all costs. 

For them, there is no middle class, no compromising their beliefs, and no diverse community.  Instead, everything is rich or poor, right or wrong, and racially segregated.  My job, outside of teaching grammar, vocabulary, and reading skills, is to foster within my students an appreciation for the intangible riches they have been given, even though the beliefs they adhere to tell them that they are anything but wealthy.  Constantly recognizing God’s presence in their lives, showing them love, and encouraging the development of their talents permeates everything I do.

Instilling an appreciation for the value of education in my students’ lives is my most important task as an educator.  I am called to use my diverse talents, my sense of humor, my deepening faith, and a never-ending supply of candy in service to them.  By providing a consistent, positive adult presence and encouraging the development of their abilities, my students are learning.  They are beginning to see that they have endless possibilities and are broadening their vision of the world.