The Change starts with you!

LAC hits the streets to clean-up Lezhe!

We in education are in the business of transformation and growth. I always say that I wouldn't do this job(Guidance Counseling) if I didn't believe in young peoples' power to change. I see endless potential in young people not just to change themselves but to change the world around them. In my past job I constantly was encouraging personal growth and change in my students as they were in a position of challenge due mostly to their own negative choices. Now in Lezhe I work with students that have the passion beyond themselves to change their city and society. They look around and say "This isn't good enough, we want something better!"

Yesterday(11/22) we took a break from class and we took to the streets with gloves and trash bags to make a difference. One of the first things you will notice if you come to Albania, especially the more populated areas, is the trash. I have mentioned this before, how horrible the lack of respect for public spaces is. People don't seem to think twice about littering and the land and beauty of the country is suffering. Our students seem to have an awareness that this is a disaster that they want change. However, it is an overwhelming problem and when you see the piles of trash it can be paralyzing. I am sure you can relate. All we have to do is turn on the news or open a newspaper and we are hit with massive injustices and enormous problems we hate, but feel powerless to change. Let me encourage you to find a way to do something. LAC students picked up A LOT of trash Friday and I was so proud of them and encouraged! However, when I walked those exact streets 5 hours later on the way to dinner I couldn't tell the difference. In fact I noticed new litter on the streets. It was as if we hadn't done anything at all. But I wasn't fooled! I know there was immeasurable value in what we did! The work the students did was empowering to them. Also, it showed the community that this issue matters. Our school is next to the market so hundreds of people witnessed our effort. What a wonderful example our students were and I believe that someone was impacted by that example. When we make an effort to change something that is wrong even if it does not seem successful, for example Lezhe is still a horrible mess today, it has value. It gives you a connectedness to the problem you wish to change. The students are now invested in their community. I feel confident that none of them are continuing to contribute to the problem they have crossed over to be part of the solution. It starts with personal individual change and then it takes teamwork to create a movement. So back to you, what have you done lately to impact your world? The change starts with you!


"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." Mother Teresa