i volunteer with mclub's young minds club. conduct workshops for kids between 13-15 on issues like globalization, active citizenry, leadership and work with them on community service initiatives. yesterday, i conducted one of youth leadership for the (now) sec3s after months of just working with the (now) sec 2s. the Sec 3s are a smaller bunch and the quality of interaction is so much higher because of it. i've missed the banter and the intelligent discourse. so it was an especially amazing saturday afternoon. i could think of no better way of spending it.
.... my sec3s have grown. with some encouragement, their horizons have expanded. i notice how much more critically they think. the introspection that occurs when thinking about certain issues. of course, on the onset you still get them skimming the surface of issues, thinking locally rather than globally. but with some gentle prodding, i find them going beyond the obvious and looking deeper. asking more difficult questions. testing themselves and each other.
.... its a wonderful feeling to be part of this intellectual development, and in other components of our programmes to provide some impetus for their moral and personal growth as well. expectations have widened so much and we must continue to push our young to stray from insular paths. to walk outside the boundaries. to push their limits and yet at the same time keeping them rooted so that they continue to be grounded and not rise to a level of elitist alienation.
.... its not all about them. they push me to think harder. to feel deeper. to look at myself and my shortcomings. to criticise. constructively. to improve myself. tis a terribly enriching and satisfying experience...
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