"Mi propósito" by

From the beginning...

jumedina28_ — 2023-11-15 00:50:49 UTC

I was born in Bogota, into a small neighborhood located at the south of the city, starting as the oldest child from a couple that was facing economic and familiar difficulties. Growing up in this environment, I learned the “importance” of money and “becoming someone” from an early age to avoid these difficulties.

to school

jumedina28_ — 2023-11-15 00:58:43 UTC

When I started school, I had my first contact with these “second” mothers, my teachers, who were worried about setting a familiar environment and transfer their passion for teaching. I hardly ever had a personal issue with a teacher. This had a profound impact on me personally, as my perspective from the teacher’s figure has been positive, I’ve always believed in their power to change people, the same way they changed me.

and making mistakes,

jumedina28_ — 2023-11-15 00:59:40 UTC

. I used to think, as my family told me, that money was the most important thing we should pursue, as this defines your value as a person; however, one event that left a lasting impression on me was when I decided to study Industrial Engineering because “I could earn more money working in that field”. I didn’t listen to my teachers when I was about to graduate, I didn’t pay attention to my mother’s advice, and I forced myself to think that I wanted to be an engineer for the rest of my life. The problem came when I started university and I just could last one-month studying engineering, I realized I’d never liked it. I had a lovely mother who wanted to support me and asked me to do what I wanted. I remember laying in bed asking myself “What do you want to be?”, “is money what matters?”, “what do you like to do the most?”, and I figured that teaching and learning answered those questions.

but being able to correct them

jumedina28_ — 2023-11-15 01:00:12 UTC

I started the career that I wanted and my little knowledge about the world I live in expanded. My ideas regarding inequality, social injustice, the lack of interest for minorities, marginalization and colonialism became clear, and the most important role of teachers as a social subject emerged. The practice of teaching should go beyond transferring knowledge to students, teacher’s functions may encourage students to develop a critical thinking that let them change these inequalities and respond to social needs. In order to do this, language teachers would need to consider intercultural competence and work decolonization practices in their classroom to introduce these topics. This is something that I would like to be part of my identity as a teacher.

and find a "purpose".

jumedina28_ — 2023-11-15 01:00:49 UTC

Personally, and going against what I’ve been taught, I don’t consider money as a value from someone, but it just keeps inequality in a social system; I don’t think that we came here for a particular reason or “propósito”, as life doesn’t make sense itself, but we should permanently look for actions that help us improve the social group we live in and make a better world; I don’t think the way to reach a good life quality is by working hard, but by fighting to erase inequality and social injustice. Furthermore, being a teacher is the best opportunity to achieve my reason for living and being happy.