It’s been a great experience so far. The staff have been really helpful in getting me settled in, and the youth that I work with have been very inclusive, even going so far as to insist that I partake in their weekly reflection sessions with them. It’s a wonderful group of people, which makes getting up to try to do good things with them each morning a whole lot easier.
In another sense, though, the fact that they’re so pleasant makes my job harder. I find that I’m constantly questioning myself: Am I doing a good enough job doing good things? My time here is limited, and I want to do as much as I can. Yet often times when I’m considering ways to do more, I find myself coming face to face with some very difficult, fundamental issues. Poverty, and the whole slew of social issues that come with it, is a prime example. Entire societies spend years trying to remedy it, with varying degrees of success, so what can I, an individual with two months, hope to accomplish?
Encountering these impossible problems can be frustrating. But if that frustration can be channeled into something useful, like motivation or volition, some good could come of it. That’s a personal goal of mine for the next six weeks. I’ll check back in at some point and let you know how it’s going.
Chris Podrachy
Duke Student '15