Due: Wednesday, 26. SEP 2012
Read the article:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2012/0902/Back-to-school-From-rural-Africa-to-the-Ivy-League
Then decide if you think this project worthwhile: consider cost, manpower hours, local beliefs and customs vs MEDC beliefs and customs (is it harming the local kids culturally?), or is it simply a band-aid solution to make the "givers" feel better about themselves? Is it necessary? Or are we (my country) telling the local families that their world is inferior to ours? Who's to say if being a subsistence farmer in Swaziland is more or less important or fulfilling than being an MIT trained electrical engineer?
Please ensure your comments are addressing the prompt directly and that you are saying what you have to say in between 250 - 400 words.
How many people out there are looking for higher education but just don’t have the financial capacity to receive this education? Although this can be a costly process, it still benefits different countries. In Africa for example, there are millions of people trying to make their way to America or to Europe to receive better education. These young folks are full of knowledge that they want to put to practice. Many of them such as Joshua Foromera seek to pursue education in medicine. Why? This can be debated, but in my opinion it’s because of the epidemics that are haunting their countries. They’re tired of seeing thousands of people die due to one disease that for some reason no one can find a cure to. They want to show that they have the capacity to find a solution; they want to take action; they want to make a change.
ReplyDeleteIn African families, when a child goes off to university out of Africa, the parents believe that the child will forget about African cultures and forget where they are from by completely getting involved in Western cultures which are much more liberal. This can be a conflict; however, as mentioned before, this is an opportunity for the child to expand their knowledge. It is also very likely that the child will meet someone in their university that is in the same situation as them as mentioned in page 2 of the article. This program is definitely necessary because it allows children who have the ability to practically change the world to get the opportunity follow a stable educational path. This isn’t to say that African countries are inferior to the United States or to make Africans feel that way but it’s to allow Africans to go to the United States where education is very much advanced and to bring back that knowledge to Africa where they can make a change.
Let’s look at the example given in the question about being a subsistence farmer in Swaziland compared to being an MIT trained electrical engineer. Both have their benefits but one can lead to a much more promising future. However, this all depends on the economic status of a country. For example, studying to become a trained electrical engineer in the United States can definitely get you good money; however, if you move back to Africa in a country with a weak economic status, you are not likely to gain much. Although this program allows students to go to the United States to study and bring that knowledge back to their country, it still depends on what they want to study, on the standard of living, and on how much they can possibly gain from studying a certain field. As a whole, these factors must all be considered before making final decisions.
The main problem I see with this project is the financing. Even if most of the money used for their college experience is given as gifts I think they should pay back some of it. It’s the least they could give back to America, when American money is being used to give them all the things they are getting. I’m not against this project, in fact I think it’s a great idea; I just believe that after they have the ability to pay us back they should do so.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that a higher education is advantages, and that America is able to give a higher education to its students. I have a friend whose mom has a tropical agriculture degree. Once we were walking along a trail by some Congolese gardens on the side of a hill and she promptly explained how the gardens we saw could easily improve their productivity and quality of fruit if the gardeners only knew a few simple facts about agriculture (things as simple as the direction of the rows of plants, which should be horizontal instead of vertical in regard to the hill that they are on). Since we (as Americans) have the ability to gain this higher level of education it is obvious that they are inferior to us, but all they need to do is increase their human capital in order to start competing with us. I think this program is worthwhile however because some countries are having a hard time increasing their human capital by themselves (due to many different things including civil war). I don’t see any way that this would harm their culture, but like I said before: as long as they do something for the people who gave them the ability to become great this program seems worth it to me.
University is for everyone, and every human being should be allowed to go. This project of helping these less fortunate students should continue as it enhances “education” in Africa. With this project students will be motivated to work in their early school years and excel in order to get chosen to go for College. Now comes the problem; these so called students living in certain countries in Africa are unable to pay for college and this project helps them with the process.
ReplyDeleteThis project is worthwhile but it requires funding and it needs the help of many people. Like the article says, it’s one thing to get into college and it’s another thing to fit in and stay there. Some students have never even thought of applying. These students that do end up going will probably need guidance when they reach the US.
Although this project needs manpower and hours of work, it’s for a good cause. I consider this project sort of charity. Just think about it, these students have the ability to do as much as average international students, but they can’t afford it. For instance, lets look at an average technician in Congo and an average technician in the US. They’ve pretty much learnt the same information and they’ve probably experienced the same type of situations, but they seem to be getting different pays and the technician in the US has a lavish lifestyle whereas the technician in Congo lives in squalor. With this project, these less fortunate people actually do have a chance to go to college, experience new lifestyles, learn more things, and even earn a better living.
Considering financial situations of the rural Africans, it must have been just a “dream” to have an education oversea. If the “United States Achievers Program” can provide opportunities to rural African students, why would that not be a good thing? I believe this project is worthy: while United States can receive good reputation for providing scholarships, the underserved African teenagers can have a great chance to experience and learn in the best Universities in the World. This project can truly show that Africa has valuable human resources, and that these students may develop as leaders of their own countries or even as global leaders.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I recommend and support this project, rather than saying that this is necessary. If brilliant students in Africa lose opportunities for better education just because of their financial situations, later in the future, the local country itself will lose great human resources, which can promote developments in the country. Some may believe that if Africans go to U.S. Universities, they may forget their cultures. However, they have serious omission in judgement. Rather than simply losing their cultural importances, the students will learn how to cooperate and harmonize with international students and their cultures. This project is definitely not saying that “your country’s education is inferior to ours.” Instead it is suggesting a new path of education to African countries, so that the students may have more experiences in, today, globalized age.
It is solely African students’ choice to go to U.S. colleges or to stay in their country and learn farming or to carry on with family businesses. If the students want to learn more, this project can greatly help them. To become an M.I.T. electric engineer or to become a farmer depends on the career choice of the student, not how and what is more important role, since every jobs in the world have importances.
Even though I find this project very interesting, I am puzzled about the idea of finding talented students around the world and then send them to Ivy League universities. It is a great idea to establish a project like this in several countries around the world, because some countries especially undeveloped ones don’t make education their major matters. I won’t say that it is a solution to make the givers feel better about themselves, but it is definitely a good opportunity for the United States too. This program isn’t found in every single country on the globe and I think that it is for a particular reason.
ReplyDeleteThe developments of few African and Asian countries for the past few years have been noted by major world powers. So I think that USAP look more at those countries than the others. “The primary goal for what we do and why we do it is to cultivate relationships with future leaders around the world” said Meghann Curtis. Those brilliant students will be in the future leaders of big firms, ministers or even president of countries. I think because they were helped by the United States, they will keep this link they have with the country. This program is helping the US government, the clever students with financial challenges and the home country of those students.
This is how I think this works. Because those students will graduate in the United States and will go back to their countries as leaders, the US government is almost sure that in the future they will establish a trade market with those countries. Brilliant students with little means can have an incredible opportunity of learning more and excelled in what they are good at. Also undeveloped countries can count on their high educated citizens to come back, rule the country and try to lead the nation to a prosperous future.
You may have found the actual reason behind what is supposed to look like altruism on the part of the US. We are very much a "what's in it for me country," at least as far as helping those beyond our borders is concerned. Sam, does this make you feel a bit less like they should "pay back" the US for giving them this "opportunity?"
DeleteMy question to you, Maelle, is this: what if these young people don't want to return to their home country? India experienced a major "brain drain" to the US and Britain for about 30 years. China, Korea, and Taiwan are fighting one now. I look at Jennifer's reply about African families worrying about their kids losing their culture. What if they defect completely? Will the still be serving their country from afar?
ReplyDeleteI think the USAP program is both about "feel good" and also about projecting US goodwill to the less fortunate who may become leaders of their respective countries which in turn helps US national interest. I feel the USAP program is a win-win for the US Government as well as the students benefitting from this program.
In any aid-based program, I believe there is always a certain motivation based on a feeling of "feel good" about helping the unfortunate. However, these programs also tend to show the world that US foreign policy is not only about military-power projection, or "meddling" in other countries' affairs, or anti-Arab or any number of other accusations. There's a significant portion of tax payers' money that is being spent on helping those in need irregardless of which administration is in the White House. I strongly believe that programs such as USAP are educating future leaders who, if they remain in the US, will help boost the US economy and if they go back to their home countries, may help forward US interests in their countries.
This maybe a somewhat cynical view but investing in future generations of other countries is a win-win situation for the US and a profitable return on investment of tax payers' dollars. The USAP is not only doing themselves a favor by enhancing the education of the unprivileged but also investing in the national interest of the United States. In the hope that if some of these students become future leaders of their countries, they will remain US friendly.
Alina, you and Maelle both point toward the US hoping to keep these countries US friendly. What if, as is so often the case, these young people decide to stay abroad - in the US. What good does this do their country now? is it still win-win? And what about the US tax-payers who will argue that the US should put forth educational aid to citizens before importing talent?
Delete“With US Achievers Program, we are trying to tap into the underserved students, to give opportunities of an educational experience to people who otherwise wouldn’t have it,” says Meghann Curtis, deputy assistant secretary of state for academic programs, including USAP, the Fulbright program, and other scholarships. Take a look at today’s world. There are millions of talented people, people who can go very far, people who have the potential of doing something great. The only thing that impedes these talented people from becoming something, or someone, is not being able to meet the financial needs of a particular school or living in a country with limited opportunities to pursue one’s education. This project allows students, such as Joshua Foromera, to show their potential and gain further knowledge, professionally in a certain field. Being given the chance to gain further knowledge, make your dreams come true, and practice something that you are most certainly born to do is a life changing and eye-opening experience.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, families with their own customs, whether they are Indian, African, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, all fear that their children will forget their traditional values and beliefs. They hesitate in letting their children go to the U.S to study simply because they are afraid that their children might adapt to the American lifestyle and pick up aspects of the American culture, while slowly letting go of their own, in other words, being “white-washed.” However, this depends on each individual and his/her family. In my opinion, one should feel blessed to be given such an opportunity to do something great, to be able to make a difference or change in the world. This change may take place in your native country where your studies and your education would make a huge difference medically, technologically, or even economically. Being a subsistence farmer in Swaziland or being an MIT trained electrical engineer certainly has its differences as well as benefits. Although one leads to more opportunities and job offers, it all depends on the country you live in and how financially stable it is. Being a farmer in Swaziland may be the best job one can have. While faced with financial difficulties and families to provide for, this particular job may be rewarding for one with limited choices in ways of making a living. On the other hand, being an MIT trained electrical engineer certainly comes with a wider range of choices to pick from, but depending on where one chooses to work makes a huge difference. Working in a country where essential resources and tools are limited and scarce may be less rewarding and even more difficult and expensive then working in the States where the availability of tools are not an issue.
In the end, whether you choose to believe that this is an unnecessary project and a “Band-Aid solution to make the "givers" feel better about themselves” depends on who you are and whether you are able to financially support yourself, education wise. There are millions of talented people who are less fortunate and really need this opportunity. In my opinion, this shouldn't be all about looking good in society, or doing something for your reputation, it should be because you are financially able to support those who cannot afford to pay for their education. It should be because you know that your actions can make a difference in the world and help educate countries that lack knowledge of new innovations, which may aid countries that are less developed than the U.S or Canada.
Every student thinks about going to college or university no matter what country they are in underdeveloped or developed, if their family can provide them with the tuition fees or not or some other reason but they still hope that someday they to would get a chance to go to college. When a student goes to college he/she tries to fulfill their desire, to show their talent and their intellectual abilities. They not only go for themselves but also for their families and the country. To became future leaders. To contribute to something or bring a change in the environment and to make it a better place where all of us can live peacefully without any trouble. Students that live in countries that don’t have proper education or in situations in which they cant get good education and that they need support to purse their goals have "the US achievers program". The United States achievers program provides funds and moral support to students in countries that lack in education or are underdeveloped. They help them with financial aid, scholarships, visa, SAT, and admission process. It’s a very good thing that they’re doing this. Students should get a chance its not like the students in Africa are dumb because their country is underdeveloped or something they to are smart and intelligent but just didn’t get a chance or are waiting for a program just like “the united states achievers program “ to purse their dreams. That’s a different thing that when they go to the states they will face difficult challenges. And it will be more difficult for them if they have never been in that kind of environment, its new for them and will take time and slowly will adjust. Later it depends on them weather they want to change their culture or anything but I think if your child is brought up in a certain culture you wouldn’t forget it or try to convert or change into a different type of culture. Its really the students opinion and it also depends on what college or university they go to, their surrounding, and their group of friends if they get the right type of environment and friends they would be fine. And after their studies they have a choice of staying in the US or going back to their home country. If they decide to stay in the US its their choice, after all they can still help or do something for their betterment where ever they live.
ReplyDeleteThis project is definitely worthwhile as an educated population is known to have lower birth rates and lower rates of STI, then poorer and less educated countries. Though there is always disadvantages to moving, especially not only to a different country, but also to a different continent. Thanks to the quotations in the article, I feel that one can clearly see how grateful the students in the program are for the opportunity to further their studies.
ReplyDeleteOne could interpret the situation from a different angle though, as several people feel that big schools such as Harvard and Princeton, only seek out international students especially form poor backgrounds because they want to add to the diversity of their campus. Harvard for example, is rated pretty high in terms of diversity, and they are very proud of it. So maybe for their own self-interest, big schools are helping people from poor countries such as Zimbabwe attend their schools. Rather than for the benefit of the students they are helping. If that is the case, and only reason for their interest in poor regions of the world, then I think it’s wrong. As it keeps other students within the US from getting into the schools, but at the same time it’s a win-win situation for both parties. As the big school becomes more diverse thanks to these students, and the students get the opportunity to study in prestigious institutions, to attempt to secure a better life for themselves, their families and their country.
I don’t think the point of the program or article is to prove that one country is superior to another. Though based on facts, the US is wealthier then countries like Zimbabwe, there are still people living off their farms in the US. Even though they are not as many as in Zimbabwe, and even though they might have access to basic necessities, at the end of the day they are both farmers trying to make the best of what they have. A good example is of one student in the article, who mentioned being a refugee in South Africa. He was given information and he used that information to move towards a better life and to try to realize his dream.
Moving and adjusting to a new environment and language is often difficult, probably even more difficult for the students in the program mentioned in the article, but people adapt and often meet people of their religion, ethnicity or nationality. An example is the large and vibrant Ethiopian community in D.C. area, they moved to a new country and continent, but still manage to make it feel like home. Both the students and the Ethiopians make the best of what they have.
Education is one of the biggest issues countries face today. In order for a country to grow economically and socially, the people have to be well educated, especially in the case of younger generations. I believe that, the USAP project is largely worthwhile, because of its advantages for people coming from underdeveloped countries. The effect this project has on children in places like, Africa or India is highly significant, in the way that it gives them the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Does it harm the local kid’s culturally? Not necessarily, I think it helps the kids explore different cultures and it orientates them to majors that will be useful in the development of their own countries. As the article says, ‘’ Joshua foromera, chose to major in biology and chemistry in search of an effective treatment to cure the virus linked to aids’’. The reason of his choice could be because, AIDs is very common in many African societies thus, finding a cure will help improve the society’s medical culture.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, families’ customs and cultures from distinct backgrounds, lead some parents to doubt that their child will lose their origins. However, these assumptions often occurred in the past. Parents did not allow their children to go away from home to get a higher education in advanced countries, such as Europe or America. In today’s world, parents are more alert of the benefits higher education brings. The majority of the children, end up heading to a direction that has a connection with who they are. Most importantly, this that does not mean that these challenged countries are inferior to the United States. It simply provides better education conditions, and a great expansion of one’s knowledge, that these children will bring back home.
In my opinion, I do not think the USAP project, is “simply a way to make the givers feel good about themselves” because the outcome promotes better and high education for the less fortunate countries. It does not only change one’s life, it also provokes a whole nation’s growth socially and economically. Even though, it is probably in Americans self interest, it will not change what the other countries will gain in return. The Importance is that, everyone in different parts of the world will now be moving forward.
Education nowadays is one of the thing that most people care about, and will really like to have in order to improve his or her personal knowledge. Although education is needed in every aspects of career or work that a person will be planning on doing, and in some of of the continent or even places in the world where most of the people have not been aware of knowing anything about getting a better education, although also nowadays in order for a country to improve socially, economically, and other aspects it will require the country to have a good education system offered for the youth people to have known, and learned.
ReplyDeleteThat is why the United States government had decided to have to start a program called USAP which is an organization that has settled by the United States Government in order to give some of the undevelopped countries in the world, but it is a great opportunity that they have offered to the countries that have a low education system. They main idea is to recruit students from underdeveloped countries and try give them financial aid, scholarship, SAT and admission procces in order for them to be able to go learn in the US. The project is really worthly as it is to educate a population and by educating one person then you are educating a whole nation.
But it is also a hard thing for a student that has never been outside of his home town to go and learn outside and especially when it is so far from home;Although the majority of students that are leaving they country to go study in America it is a majority of Africans because in Africa we have everything that we need to help to have a better education but we just never use it, and instead we give it away to strangers to come into the continent and own it , and after when they go back in they countries they get to make money out of it and that is why people are thinking also that Africa is a continent full of non educated people, but we are hopefully thinking that all this will change sooner or later.
There are many people in this world that don’t even know what college looks like. Every human being on this planet has the right of being educated, just because one’s parents are farmers or a vegetable vendor doesn’t mean they don’t want to go to college. I believe what the USAP is doing is helpful and a step taken in good faith. This way the people with minor opportunities and a mere amount of money get to go to the most elite schools which aids in expanding their knowledge and understanding of how the world is and how it works. It definitely is not a band-aid solution pursued by givers to make them feel good about themselves neither is it to make the givers feel superior. I believe this helps the deprived ones and gives a chance to the meritorious ones that would never have a chance to go to college otherwise. Also certainly it is not brain-drain; rather it opens doors to a better future, making the world more culturally diverse.
ReplyDeleteThis project is certainly a boon to all the unfortunate and meritorious African students that aspire to go to the world top American colleges. Also I fail to see how it could culturally harm to go the US, rather, it helps them expand on their knowledge more and bring that knowledge back to Africa where they can put it into use and help better the economy. One could argue that this is brain drain, but it is just the opposite because opportunity is being given to the economically unstable families so that their children can go abroad, study, and come back full of knowledge whilst helping their respective country. Another question that was posed was that who's to say if being a subsistence farmer in Swaziland is more or less important or fulfilling than being an MIT trained electrical engineer? Well the answer to that is no one; no one decides whether being a farmer is better than being an MIT trained engineer, it is for the individual to decide for themselves because after all it is their life. A good point made by my fellow colleague Jenifer was that an MIT engineer might not get as much opportunities in Africa as they will in America. This is quite true but what it does help to do is make a country economically stronger. The first MIT engineer, say in Swaziland doesn’t get paid as high, same being for the second one that comes but gradually the amount of MIT engineers coming would make the economy better making Africa as educationally attractive as the advanced economies.
Therefore I believe that what USPA is doing is a boon rather than a curse because it helps for the betterment of the economy of Africa, makes the world more culturally diverse and intellectually aware. It certainly does not brainwash indigenous African students of their African culture rather it teaches them how to incorporate it in every place they go to hence again making the world a culturally diverse place. One could be a skeptic and look at this situation and say that it is nothing but a band-aid solution to make governmental and non-governmental organizations look good, but it is for us to understand that not every purpose on this planet has a selfish motive and optimism like honesty sometime is the best policy.
Education is one of the biggest issues that Africa faced nowadays. In order for a country to develop, it must also have educated leaders. People in Africa are trying to attempt school outside of the continent in order to get “better education” which I think it’s a problem because they are under estimated the education in Africa. They are going there to get the knowledge and bring it back to Africa so that they can develop our continent. We have talented people in Africa and not everyone get access to education because of bad financial situation and bad situation in some areas. It is not possible for a person to go to school if there is war, hunger or diseases.
ReplyDeleteThis project is worthwhile because it gives opportunity to students whose parents can’t pay university to get education. It helps the students to develop more their abilities and be good leaders of tomorrow. Yes, it requires hours of work from people but it is for a good reason. I also think that it is just telling Africans that the education in Africa in lower then everywhere else. This idea has been stuck in people’s mind here and it is a reality that we believe in. We are under estimated Africa ourselves. It is basically not true because we have intelligent professor here too. When you think about this project, culturally, it both can and cannot harm the students. If they go to a place where there is not a person with the same situation, it is possible for them to forget about Africa and their culture. But if they meet someone who he is in the same situation as they are, they can talk about Africa and their culture.
Being a subsistence farmer in Swaziland is not less important than being a MIT trained electrical engineer because they both requires knowledge and abilities of doing them. Well the engineer needs what the farmers produce in order to eat and be in good shape. It is true that you get more money when you are an engineer in America but in Africa, it is not that profitable. This project is good because it helps to form the leaders of Africa but not everyone will decide to come back. I think people should also promote the education here in Africa.
Why do you think education here in Africa is not promoted more than it is? Are there countries in Africa that do tout excellent post-secondary education education? Also, I agree with you that there is strong possibility if the best and brightest leave in order to gain education, they may believe that since there is no "good education" here for them, there will also be no "good profession" here for them and then you have just created a new brain drain - which India experienced in the 1980s and 90s. How could the government here go about beefing up the local education?
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ReplyDeleteI really agree with the fact that the USAP program did not just choose any kind of students but especially those who come from disadvantaged places. Lots of talented people of different nationalities, and mostly in Africa dream about going to colleges such as Harvard or Yale, in the States or even in Europe for a good education. Unfortunately not everyone has the means to afford to go in such universities and colleges. An example is Mr Foromera’s who was a talented kid, but a refugee in South Africa who could not afford a stable education. So it’s a very good idea and it makes sense to select those who are the most disadvantaged instead of the richer ones.
I don’t think USAP is just a band-aid solution to make “the givers” feel proud about themselves but, as almost everyone said above, it is a win-win for the US government as well as the students who benefit from this program. Those students benefitting from the USAP program, who may be talented, get to go to a foreign country and are admitted in some of the best colleges in the world. Thanks to their talent and the education they can get in those colleges, they may surely become some important personalities in the future. But on the other hand the government wins as well, because of its schools diversity thanks to the students selected, plus it will maybe benefit of new important personalities, such as scientists or politicians. An example would be Mr Foromera’s who is a biology and chemistry major now at Duke University,and who is trying to find a treatment to the virus linked to AIDS.
Therefore I definitely think that the USAP is a necessary and interesting program because it is a benefit for both the US government and the students benefitting from it. And it can probably provide new innovations and grow the economy as well as the diversity of the nation.
Hi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteI am Joshua Foromera. I really can't explain how I ended up here but i find your discussion extremely interesting. I should make it clear that you all have valid points and your dialogue is very civil and respectful. The major reason why I wanted to contribute is to give you a little more information about myself specifically so that you can discuss from a more informed perspective.
What drives me?
I graduated from Duke a few weeks ago and I am over the moon. I had good grades and I graduated honors; all that was a lot of work and SUPPORT from many people, some directly and others indirectly. I finally got into medical school - Harvard and I want to specialize in infectious diseases but mainly HIV/AIDS and TB. As one of you have pointed, I am drawn to medicine because of many deaths that I saw while growing up. For a record, I lost 3 cousins to HIV in a very short time. It was and it is still BAD when I think about it and when I see the orphaned kids at my house. I am going to keep on doing HIV research this summer, during medical school and even beyond. I am an optimist who believes that a cure or vaccine is possible. I neither condone the promiscuity and sexual irresponsibility that fuel the spread of this disease in many parts of Africa nor support the fatalists who believe that Africans have no more hope left. I am here as one voice of Africa and I am thankful for all the education that I am receiving, sincerely hoping to return home to make a difference to my folks some day.
What I think about America.
As a recipient of a scholarship, I should be thankful. One of you pointed that it is a dream for us to be here..I second you. Even in my wildest dream, I never for a second imagined myself in a plane, never! I think the first thing that I should do is to prove that I was/am worthy all the investment that you put in me. Volunteering at homeless shelters, teaching inner city kids during spare time or tutoring underclassmen are some of the ways that I thought would be giving me - I mean ALL that I have to the people who have welcomed me into their society. I will stay for a while after medical school for residency, fellowship and even research training. During all that time I will be contributing to the American healthcare system. I will have loans to pay back so i MUST stay in this country, there is no other way and my heart tells me that I MUST pay back in kind for all the training that I was afforded. American people, you are a great nation, people like myself and many others who live daily from your generosity will ALWAYS pray for you.
Cont...
ReplyDeleteWhat is America losing/gaining?
This is a complicated question. Maelle, you came up with very diplomatic and accurate answers. For starters, I will NEVER be an enemy of this nation, not in a million years. By helping me, and empowering my people, Americans have found to get closer to the most rudimentary societies of Africa. Do you think my folks will tolerate a voice that says otherwise? NO! My education will offer me a chance to stand in influential positions both in the corporate and political spheres of my country. That adds to the types of relationships that American institutions can have with Africa. I am sure that Africa needs America and vice versa. I think I am also someone who has a different perspective about life. When I am in class, sometimes i find discussions more interesting when I add my version that is almost non-existent among Americans of my age. I do not say this to justify my presence but I genuinely think that I add diversity of opinions in issues such as global health, cultural difference and other social, political and economic matters. Though I see some benefits that America can draw from helping me, I should also be clear that I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people that I have met and I believe that I am gaining what money or anything can buy from this nation.
I say all these things on my personal account and my beliefs and thoughts are not necessarily representative of everyone in USAP. However, I think that when I say I am grateful, I speak for all USAPers.
Thank you and regards,
Josh.
Thank you for your post. I will make sure my class sees this and gets a chance to discuss your input. Perfect timing as their final day of classes is this Friday. I wish you well in your efforts to eventually take your work home and in your journey through the rest of the US system. Congrats on your graduation from Duke!
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