One of my favorite
things about GLMA is getting to know my students. There are several that we
spend time with outside of classes. There is one student, who I will call Peta,
that comes in early on Mondays and Wednesdays to work with Dan because he is
blind and he need to memorize all of his music. Often times while they are in
the office working on piano doesn’t actually happen. Many times Dan, Peta,
myself, and whoever else happens to come into the office talk about a wide
assortment of topics. Yesterday (Wednesday) was no different. Peta and Dan came
into the office while I was working on monthly progress reports. It was one of
those days where you talk about anything except your job. Somehow we got on to
conversations of life and relationships. Dan and I basically got a large
portion of Peta’s life story.
Backing up to
August. I remember Peta and his newlywed wife walking into the academy in order
to register for classes. They sat down and asked me to come over to assist in
filling out all of the necessary forms. Peta was so genuine and excited to be
able to come and learn music with us. We all knew that having a student with
visual impairment would be difficult (I worked with one my freshmen year of
college), but we were up for the challenge.
Fast forward to
now. Peta has taught us so much about working hard, enjoying what you are
doing, and living life to the fullest. Like I said, Peta basically told us his
life story. He told us about all of the challenges of being born healthy and
going blind gradually over the years. He told us of the trips to Brazil and
England to see specialists to try to save his eye sight, but they failed.
Throughout this story he kept telling us how blessed he has been and still is.
He said two things that really struck me in the office. First, “I never give up
in life; and with strength, courage, and that guy above me (God) I will make
it. I have to keep on going.” A few minutes letter he also added, “In this life
you always prepare. You don’t know what is in the future. You can only live for
now.” These both really hit home for me. We all struggle. We all have to try to
make decisions, heck Claire and Dan are currently fighting with themselves
about what they are going to do next year. Do they come back, or do they start
searching for jobs elsewhere? (There is a plus to knowing I have to return to
Waldorf to student teach, and therefore do not have to make that hard decision
right now). He put it so plainly that I had to stop for a moment and think
about what he said. It’s true. I can only live for now. I might be someone who
wants to be able to plan way out into the future, but I do not know what lies
ahead of me. All I know for sure is that I am currently in Guyana, South
America teaching music to some amazing students. I don’t know what tomorrow
might bring. It may bring challenges, successes, or even a combination of the
two, but no matter what I do I cannot stop it, and I don’t think I want to.
It is amazing to
think about all the things my students are teaching me. Sometimes I think they
are teaching me more than I teach them. They are amazing, and I thank God every
day for them. They remind me just how wonderful it is to learn new things and
to be able to share that excitement with others. They have blessed me so much,
and I can only hope that I have been, and will be able to continue, to bless
them over the next five months.
Dan pointed out on
his blog that we have just passed the half way point of our year. I have no
clue where the time has gone. I feel like I have been in Guyana forever, but at
the same time it feels like just a few weeks. I’m sure it will continue like
that these next five months, but faster. Each and every one of you that take
the time to read my posts bless me. I want to thank you all for your support
and kind words/thoughts on this journey of mine. I look forward to being able
to tell you more about my experiences once I am back in the states, but for
now, I will just enjoy the five short months I have here and try to live for
today to the best of my ability.
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