Even though I’m already in my second year of university, I decided that I can’t just stay in my comfort zone — so I decided to sign up for the Outreach Program.
My partner and I had the opportunity to teach 3rd and 4th graders of Waseda Jitsugyo Elementary School about the Canadian culture over two 40-minute lessons. Though the lessons were done online, my partner and I met up in-person a few times to prepare, so it didn’t feel isolating at all. And in case you were wondering, kids can make you smile in an instant even across the screen. I would definitely recommend this event to anyone who wants to interact with kids; they really have a special type of energy!
More than that though, I found it a very enriching and meaningful experience to be able to share my own experience growing up as a third-culture kid. I personally attended a Japanese elementary school, so I had an idea of what kind of environment the kids were in; in a way, I wanted to give back to that community by sharing things I wished I had known as a young child. Learning about the world outside of the one you already know is incredibly important, especially for children who still have much to explore.
And here’s my last message: if you feel stuck in your current environment, just try something new. And in my experience, a good starting point is getting involved in the Outreach program!
