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I got hit with a realisation the other day.
I love to help people. And I want to take it to the next level.
So I’ve decided that I want to go to Africa. Yes, you have read correctly. Africa.
What made me decide this? A feeling. But it wasn’t any feeling. It was THE feeling. I guess I should elaborate if you don’t know what I mean…Well, when I really want to do or feel strongly about something, I get this twinge in my stomach. It’s hard to explain because I only have gotten it a handful of times in my sixteen years of life. But this twinge is sort of like a mix of my last resort/indicator…I guess you’re probably confused now.
I know I will go extremely far for something when I get this twinge. I know that whenever I get the twinge, it means that whatever I want to do or feel strongly about is very crucial and important. Whenever I get into a situation, whether it is tough or if I have to make a decision, I look for the twinge. If I get it, which I hardly ever do, it means that I will put all of my body in soul into whatever needs to be done. If I don’t get the twinge, I’ll not make such a big deal about it. That is what I meant about indicator.
But, on Thanksgiving, I was lying in bed thinking about how grateful I am and all the other people who aren’t as fortunate as me. It kept me awake for hours and even prompted me to break down into tears. And as I was thinking about it, the whole time I had a feeling in my stomach.
Like I said, I don’t get this feeling that much. I hope I don’t sound like a cold hearted person but if I don’t get this twinge, I won’t go to the ends of the Earth for whatever. Friends are a different matter though…Anyways, probably one of the most memorable times where I got this twinge was at the USSSA National Basketball Tournament in Tampa two years ago in 2006. It was so memorable because this wasn’t like any basketball tournament I have ever played in. We had to endure struggles and in the end, though we didn’t win, we persevered. The whole tournament I had the twinge and I guess it made me play the best basketball I have ever played in my entire life. I have to write a blog about that tournament someday…
Back to the story…so I got this twinge, right? And it kept plaguing me throughout the rest of the break. Even as I write this post, I still have that feeling in my stomach. So, then I decided to do something about it. And that is where I have decided to go to Africa.
For hours I was researching volunteering programs to go to Africa. And finally, I found the right one. I would go to Tanzania and help build schools and playgrounds, teach local children how to speak English and other academics, converse with local community leaders, and many other services to the community. After reading what we were going to do, I got the twinge again. Twice in less than twenty four hours must mean that whatever I am trying to do must be legit.
The only problem now, is trying to convince my mother, who thinks that I am going to be kidnapped by rebels or snatched away by pirates. I know going to Africa brings a lot of possible danger but, it is a risk I am willing to take. And, I will go to the ends of the Earth to convince my mother to let me go to Africa to help people who are less fortunate than us.
Maybe later I’ll write a detailed reasoning but I am feeling quite tired right now. I think I am going to take a kip for a couple of hours. But as a closing statement, I just want all of you to know that this is probably a situation where I felt the most strongly about and I hope all of you will take me seriously enought to respect and believe in my decision.
