My Dream Team

Ok, so I openly admit: my speech giving contest was a flop :( Mainly because my students are not used to working in groups, brainstorming for ideas, and thinking for themselves. They haven’t been exposed to different teaching styles, they haven’t worked on projects, they haven’t been exposed to books and inspirational material, they don’t know how to use the computer, let alone the internet, etc. I felt so sad to witness 260 students truly struggle with my brief (which I wrote about here). However, a few special students did emerge as truly promising. Three of them I was already very familiar with, since they all actively participate in my classes. However, I was most pleasantly surprised by one of my extremely silent students.

All this (and great inspiration from Joe, thanks!) gave me an idea: What if I put these 4 promising students in a group of their own? Oooo! What if I create a secret society/afterschool club for them? What if I give them small assignments to teach them valuable life skills they can’t learn in a typical classroom setting? What if I encourage them to work together, yet also manage to create a little friendly competition to bring out their best?

Since I was already planning on contacting different companies and organizations in the country to see who could help the school in whatever way possible, I thought it would be nice to involve these students in the process.

My hope is that my inspired and inspirational students can make this school more inspirational for all. When teachers cannot distribute hand outs and supplementary material because paper and ink is so expensive, when students do not have functioning computers or internet, when there isn’t enough classroom space that students have to study in a dining hall or wall-less structure, when their minds need better nourishment with bigger food portions but money is scarce, when boarders need to sleep on actual beds in a dormitory and not on a classroom floor, well, let’s just say I see big room for improvement. In the school, and ultimately, its students.

So, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to my special team of Change Agents that is going to help me change a coupla things around school…

SAMUEL SABBAH

aka. The Underdog

Age: 19
Area of Fundraising: Stationary & Supplies

He’s the one I know the least, but have had the greatest pleasure in getting to know. Admittedly, he may have passed under my radar at first, but whether he is vocal about it or not, he is always right. And surprisingly, he’s not really shy in person once you open a discussion with him. He’s just so understatedly cool that he doesn’t feel the need to speak up. He just knows it, and that’s that. And from what I’m now beginning to realize, everyone else also silently knows that he’s silently got “it”.

MABEL KWAO

aka. (not so little or silent) Ms. Know-it-all

Age: 18

Area of Fundraising: ICT Lab Equipment/Sponsorship

Don’t be fooled into thinking she’s the only girl in the group. She’s actually 3 in one. And soooo competitive. I have to pretend I didn’t see her hand shoot up before everyone else’s, otherwise, no one else would get a chance to get an “er” in. She’s really a quick learner, and ever so graceful at everything. Always positive this girl, always smiling and laughing. She’s the kind of person everyone wants on their team, including yours truly.

ROBERT KORANTENG

aka. The Great Debater

Age: 18
Area of Fundraising : Food Procurement & Extra-curricular Supplies

This guy, oh this guy… He’s the kind of person people don’t typically want on their team, excluding yours truly. Because no one thinks of him as the studious kind. Other teachers who know his class antics may be skeptical of my decision to include him in our little group. But honestly? He’s a guy I would classify under the “good bad boy” category. He just gets into trouble for bending the rules from time to time. But secretly, he’s super motivated to learn and he’s an active thinker with that spark in his eyes, if you know what I mean. I just love that about him and I know that he’s very smart in an unconventional way. Besides, doesn’t every girl love a bad boy? I got a lot of quizzical looks from the other teachers living in the house when they saw him visit me after hours to discuss his speech ideas (the very day I launched the competition in class). Truth be told, he has never let me down - I just know him better than they do :P

FRANK WORBI
aka. Jack-of-all-trades
Age: 17
Area of Fundraising: Construction Material & Hardware Supplies 

This guy rocks the preppy look, no? He really pulls it off, just like he does everything else. Loved by teachers and students alike, he’s everyone’s go-to guy. Come to think of it, he’s a “handy-man” to have around for ANYTHING on your wish list. He’s an electrician, an accountant, an IT specialist, and you-name-it, all in one. Why? Just because he's one of the most curious students I've had the pleasure to meet!

Ok, you’re probably thinking, all this is well and good, but what exactly will my group of highly charged Change Agents be doing? Of course, I’ll be helping them out every step of the way (which is why I can only involve four students, as personally managing and tutoring more would be counter-productive), but they will be: 

• Learning how to type and use Microsoft Word and learning other random skills. They will be publishing their stories on my blog in the next few posts. These stories are the first pieces of writing they have fully typed all by themselves. Cool, huh? (Please be sure to share any words of encouragement or inspiration by commenting on their posts) Anyway, they will continue to practice typing to get better and faster at it. There is an excursion coming up - students will be visiting Parliament for the day. Not everyone can afford it though. So I told my team that the best typist by March 3^rd will get to go free of charge (little do they know that I will secretly arrange for all of them to go as a special reward for their dedication so far. They’re a little too dedicated actually - I caught a coupla them working on the computer when they shoulda been in class! I let them off the hook when they pleaded their case explaining their teacher was absent for that hour and they wanted to use the time productively). The added bonus is that we end up brushing up on their English too. Like the stories, for example, they had to write and correct for each other. The typing competition, for example, will be a dictation exercise in which I will also be testing their spelling. They also have to work on their planning/organizational/multi-tasking skills, because I give them a set of tasks and a timeline and limited resources (like a modem), and they have to organize themselves to meet their weekly objectives. 

• Learning how to use the internet. Aw, it was so cute to see my teenage students get confused with the right click/left click/double click, and open/open new tab/open new window etc. Or when they’d press the on button to turn off the computer. These are things I learned when I was tiny, so it feels great to pass this on to 18 year olds for the first time! Aw, I can’t stress how cute they’ve been, all wide-eyed and hesitant and insecure about doing it on their own, yet brave enough to try even when making one mistake after another. They want to learn and they want to be good, which is the best incentive in the world! I wanted to show them how they could search for something on the internet, so I told them they can type ANYTHING they want in google, ANYTHING at all. And instead of typing something scandalous like I half expected them to, they cut straight to the chase wasting absolutely no time: “stationary companies in Ghana”.

 

• Brainstorming for strategic ideas that would positively impact the school. We want to come up with new solutions. Ok, so maybe I will do most of the thinking myself, but at least I will do this out loud so that they benefit from witnessing the evolution of thought and experiencing the thrill of coming up with new ideas. 

• Opening their very first email account! Yeeey! And learning how to write a business letter they will be sending out to the corporate world. They’ll also listen in on how to conduct phone conversations, as we’ll need to contact managers to arrange for meetings. Who knows? Maybe if they get the hang of it, they can have a go at this themselves. 

• Drawing up a compelling presentation that sells their case, then actually presenting it to potential donors. We’re a team, and we’re all marketing the school and essentially trying to get companies to buy into our dream – a pitch of a lifetime! 

 

Fingers crossed . Wish us luck!!!!

To be continued...