Dylan Luna and the American Dream

Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending the SABIS Directors' Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.  In addition to the incredible location, I was also able to listen to many excellent speakers discuss exciting new developments unique to SABIS.  Moreover, I was able to listen to Svava Bjarnason, Principal Education Specialist at the International Finance Corporation discuss the work her organization is doing in the field of education.

Four days prior to hearing Ms. Bjarnason speak about all the good the International Finance Corporation is doing throughout the world in the field of education, I was on the roof of our hotel enjoying an Efes and looking out over Istanbul.  I turned to one of my colleagues and posed a question: How many talented children in this city of over 13 million will never get a chance in life because they are denied access to a quality education?

Daily children in our country take the education they are provided for granted.  Sure, there are many who seize this opportunity and use it to get where they want to go, but how many throw this golden opportunity away?  How many squander the opportunity to better themselves and to improve their socio-economic status in a matter of a few short years?  People in our country take the opportunities provided to us for granted.  Looking down at Istanbul I wondered "How many children similar to Dylan Luna are in this city?"  How many children are walking around with a dream, yet see no possible way of reaching this dream?  Dylan was a student of mine at the International Academy of Flint and one of my all-time favorites.  I am not sure I ever met a young person with a greater sense of purpose than Dylan.  Moreover, Dylan possessed a drive and determination I rarely saw in others.  He seized every opportunity possible in order to get where he wanted to go.  Rather than looking at his circumstances as obstacles and using them as an excuse for failure or lack of success, Dylan used his circumstances as building blocks and motivation to drive him forward.  However, Dylan was able to do so because he had a great family and support network behind him, he had access to a quality education, and he recognized the importance of this opportunity.  Providing ALL children with access to such an education may prove to be the most important issue of our generation.

Our challenge as educators is two-fold.  Not only must we work daily to ensure that the children under our care are provided the best possible education, but we must also strive to build quality relationships with the children under our care so we can influence them to take advantage of the opportunities afforded them in our great nation.  Many of our children need help seeing what is directly in front of them--both good and bad.  For this generation of young people, nothing exists until it actually occurs.  We must assume the responsibility of assisting them in looking and planning ahead, helping them navigate the challenges life brings their way, and recognizing the opportunities they have as citizens in our country.