What I have learned

This class has drastically changed my view of Sudan, and my own life. It has made me step back and look at the world in a different light. Here at Shattuck, we are in a bubble in inside another bubble (America). We hear of famine, poverty, and genocide, but do we really understand what we think we know? Sometimes during 3rd period after hockey practice I catch myself saying "I am starving! I cannot wait for lunch." We use these words so freely here in America, but do we really know what we are saying. The last few times I have said "I am starving" I have felt a little sense of shame because I know that my life is so good and the food and water I have is extremely abundant. The things we take for granted are other people's luxuries. Last night, as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep, I thought of what a blessed life I have. I have a bed, not the hard desert ground, a roof over my head, not the stars or the threat of wild animals. My dad always asks me, "Do you know how lucky you are?" And I had always replied with a smile and "yes." But now I realize that I didn't know how lucky I am, and I still don't think I fully grasp the difference in lifestyles of America and Africa.
Also, the more I learned about the conflict in Sudan, the more I realized that many of the things we value in America are not the things that need to be focused on. Family, faith, and friends are the most important things of all. I believe that people who are more fortunate should be helping those in other countries. While we are having parties with an abundance of food, people over in Sudan are scrounging for some crumbs.
This has also made me realize that if I had a bad hockey game, if I did poorly on a test, or even if I had a bad day, this is unimportant in the long run. I am grateful I am studying these conflicts because it has opened my mind to a whole new way of thinking.