I have never been so disappointed in my own people in my life, than i have been since the first week of school at York. Not because York is big and i have difficulty finding my classes here and there, (mind you among 60 thousand other students and the big buildings it is hard to find classes sometimes), or that i dont know which professor teaches well compared to others, or that i dont know anyone in this new setting. But because over the course of my post-secondary education journey, I have come across professors and teaching assistants (TA) from many different countries. Many of my TA, were/are from turkey, Iran etc, etc and just last week I found out that one of my prof is Persian. Further, during these years of school in Niagara College, Brock University and Now York University, I have come across many students from different nations and countries, but I have never came across that many Kurdish students in the first two schools. For instance, in Niagara college there were not any more than 15 Kurdish students that I knew off (now, there might have been more that I didn’t know off, I hope there were more). Now this may very well change, since Toronto is home to many Kurds and York has some 60 thousands students, I hope to come across some of them. Not because I want to hang out or get to know more Kurds, but for the sake of seeing people from my country among those perusing higher levels of education. If you have been around Kurdish parents, those educated and those that were denied the chance of getting an education even if that would have meant an elementary level, you soon become familiar with their constant advice on getting an education. You will always hear them say, “Education is the key to a successful life”, “pursue higher levels of Education, for it will help you become a better person”, “our people, and country need more intellectuals” among many other lines. Unfortunately, many of them didn’t have a chance to go to school due to their live circumstances: having been torn away by imposed wars, mass killings, displacements, migration, marginalization, occupation etc etc. Although, their live circumstances have been radically different than those of us living in Canada and Europe (enjoying the freedom there is, going to school, having the necessary tools needed to succeed, having the government help us financially (OSAP), we (Parents, kids) unfortunately stand in similar levels when it comes to acquiring higher levels of Education. There is not that many of us attending schools, we tend to finish off high-school and go and work for 10 dollars an hour in restaurants, green houses, hotels (more or less depending on where one is located). Now, I am not saying it is wrong to work at a restaurant, or at a hotel, I believe that it is essential to have a job to support you. And my intention is not to impose my opinion on anyone, but it is a simple reminder to me and you that Education is the key to a successful life. School is the one place that makes you become a better person, it makes you become critical of everyday things you believe in and you do, to question why certain things work the way they do, who is in control, what can be done to change things around. It provides room to grow physically, mentally, emotionally where by the end of school one becomes a better citizen of the community and the world. With the hope of having many Kurdish Professors and TA in higher education settings such as York, Brock, UFT and all the other wonderful schools out there. School leads one to knowledge and knowledge is power.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:53:23 +0000
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