I of course did not have any time to write this out on the last day of the HYI which I still can't believe was over a week ago. I promise I will keep this one short since the day in itself was short.
To start off, I completely slept through my alarm which was no wonder seeing as I had gone to bed but a couple of hours before and my body was tired. But I managed to quickly change (we were required to dress up the last day) and join my bros for one last breakfast in the cafeteria. The mood was very mellow and no one, especially me, had much of an appetite that morning.
After breakfast we all went to the auditorium for "graduation". There were a lot of (very) long speeches and then all the familias went up one by one. Our RAs (resident advisors) spoke a few words to us and then we took a picture and were handed certificates. Afterwards we went to lunch were once again I didn't have much of an appetite even though that was the last time I would eat for at least another 8 hours (!) Then we went at did a post survey about our time at the HYI (we had completed one on our arrival) and then we went back to the auditorium where we learned about how we could stay involved with the HYI and the Hispanic College Fund (and I will!)
5 o'clock soon rolled around and it was time to say goodbye =[ I spent a lot of time with a lot of amazing people and I will never forget the time I spent at the HYI. It really has motivated me to go on and help the Latino community, to be an active leader and to make sure that the percentage of Hispanics in college goes up. I was fortunate enough to discuss all of this on the bus and became really close with the same 4 people that I awkwardly sat around with on the bus on the first day. We played ridiculous games and played Upside/Downside except we only did upsides and my buddies have done some incredible things!
Coming home was definitely a shock but after some New York styled pizza I was finally glad to be home and back in my own bed.
I slept for 14 HOURS. Pure bliss.
UYL,
Andre
2 comments:
The HYI definitely sounds like it was one of those "life-changing" experiences you were talking about! Things like that can be real eye-openers to the world around us.
I feel that as a kid (and I still refer to myself as a kid as well), we're mostly sheltered from what is really going on in the world. My first eye-opener was my Environmental Systems class last year, and since then the world as it is has been constantly flooding into my (ahh, I can't think of the right word, so I'm going to say) scope and increasing my awareness. It's amazing that you've been exposed to an experience like this at your age because honestly, there's so much to learn about the world and so much potential for change that we are now capable of assisting (if only in small ways) now that we know there's a problem... if that makes any sense. And the sooner we know about it, the sooner we can make a difference. :)
(Though in no way am I saying that we have to go fix the world all by ourselves, knowledge of that type can also be overwhelming at times, but honestly, whatever we can do, even if it's as small as informing others of what we have learned, can make a difference.)
Goodness gracious, Andre, you are a very though-provoking writer! :)
I may have written four really long bloody post about it but what I wrote doesn't even cover half of what the thoughts and ideas I had while at the HYI. I totally agree with your sheltered comment and luckily I was able to have my eyes opened not only when I went to the HYI but when I lived in the Dominican Republic as well. And I know that I am still ignorant to a great number of things! Maybe I will take Environmental Systems senior year in order to open my mind even further.
I feel as if I now better comprehend the problem of immigration and why people view it so negatively. Yes, maybe going about it illegally isn't the best way to migrate to the US but most people don't understand exactly WHY it is that Latinos (and any other race but the HYI's focus was on Hispanics) go through the trouble of crossing the border and becoming undocumented in the US. Many come from third world countries with corrupt governments. There is a set social hierarchy that people just can't change no matter how hard they try. If you are born lower class you will most likely STAY lower class as will your children and grandchildren, it's very hard to advance in life. But here in the US there is an abundance of opportunities for a person to enhance their way of living. And even if the parents may not be living it they want their children to have the opportunity to go and get an education here in the US and then go on to college (which without the Dream Act and federal aid is extremely hard). What could be so evil about wanting a better life for yourselves, if not for your children?
Your very welcome, keep commenting and posting on your own blog!
Post a Comment