Today was the best day I’ve had so far on this entire experience. We started off our day by going to Joseph Chamberlin College, where I was placed in a classroom with students learning math and preparing for their exams. Even just sitting in the classroom and seeing all the students studying for their exams made me realize that students everywhere around the world share the same stress and have the same goals for their future.
Afterwards, we walked to the adult learning section of JCC, and I can fully say that it was the most eye-opening experience I have ever had. I was placed in a classroom where adult students were learning about equality and diversity, and truly I think I met the sweetest people ever. Everyone was so welcoming and constantly asked us questions about where we were from and what life is like in America. The professor went around the room asking each and every one of us where we were from, and it was amazing to hear all the different answers. People were from Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Eritrea, Bangladesh, and so many other places around the world. After everyone shared, the professor ended by saying, “This classroom is what diversity is,” and I think that moment is going to stick with me for a long time. They all talked about how it’s good to have different religions, races, and genders because it’s good to be surrounded in a community where everyone is different.
What made the experience even more touching was hearing the stories behind some of the students. Many of them came to the UK as refugees and spoke little to no English when they first arrived. Hearing about how they worked so hard to learn the language, adapt to an entire new environment, and even pursue higher levels of education at universities was really inspiring. The entire time I just kept thinking about how incredible that is and how much potential anyone can have. It really showed me how education can completely change someone’s life when people are given the support that they need, and it was amazing hearing it from a different perspective when I myself have grown up a lot more privileged.
Later on, we learned more about the school systems itself and I found there to be a lot of differences between the schools in the UK versus the US. One thing that shocked me the most was learning that tuition is free for students(not including family) making less than 30,000 pounds(about 40,600 US dollars), and we were told that it’s actually rare if an adult student is paying for their tuition. Even if they do pay, the highest tuition is 3,000 pounds(about 4,000 US dollars), which is a huge difference compared to the cost of education in America. Hearing that made me question why the US doesn’t do something similar. Education should be accessible and supportive, not something that will leave someone financially unstable for years.
Another thing that was really important and stood out to me was how supportive the schools are towards students who may be struggling academically or financially. Typically in the US, students with poorer performances on test scores and grades often receive less funding. At this school, students who perform worse are actually provided more funding to get help to succeed. That mindset just made more sense to me, because instead of punishing students for struggling, they focus on helping them to improve instead.
Another really important thing and difference about these schools is the additional support system they offer for their students. Most of the adult students at the school have children of their own, and if they qualify financially, the school provides free childcare and transportation, which removes so many barriers that might prevent someone from pursuing their education. They are extremely mindful of their students who are parents and even adjust courses or provide online resources so students can still keep up with their education while also providing for their children.
The last lecture we attended was about disability nursing and I think it is so important to be mindful and to understand others who have cognitive disabilities. There are so many things that can cause learning disabilities such as trauma, accidents, illness during pregnancy, and even genetics. We learned that about 1.5 million people in the UK suffer from learning disabilities, which showed me how important inclusive healthcare and education are. What shocked me was learning the fact that from the 1800s to the 1900s, doctors actually used words like “retard,” “moron,” and “lunatic” as medical terminology to describe their patients. Even today, there are so many people around the world who use these words that are considered offensive. This lecture reminded me how important empathy, language, and respect are, especially in the hospital setting.
We ended off our day by going to the botanical garden and it was absolutely beautiful. The different flowers looked so amazing and I ended up getting a souvenir from the gift shop! Later tonight I plan on going to dinner with some of my friends and ending off the day strong!