《Reflections》異鄉的芒果

1、Reflections

　　As the morning chaos around the kitchen has gradually replaced by routines, I hope all our trailblazer families have settled into the new school year nicely, and now have some energy to venture into more extracurricular activities.

　　The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition and achievement program for students. The Reflections Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves creatively and to receive positive recognition for original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme. This year, the theme is “Diversity means ….”

　　When I first heard of the theme, I thought to myself, “well, I better know what diversity means if I plan to talk to people about it”. So I checked the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary(the only dictionary I still know where to find in our house). It says, A variety. Ok, that is really helpful! As I googled online and started reading more on this topic, I started realizing how important this theme is.

　　In our busy lives, most of us isolate ourselves into small homogeneous worlds of like-minded people without even realizing it. At work, we deal with people by the same trade. At church, we pray with people who share the same belief. At school, we talk to parents who share the same high expectations for our children’s education, and on Saturdays, we enjoy the company of other cheering and screaming parents on the sports field. What’s more, our children are growing up in these small homogeneous worlds that we created. As parents, are we doing enough to equip our children with the life skills that will help them when they are ready to step out of these small homogeneous worlds This year’s Reflections program provides parents with a great opportunity.

　　So, what does it take you, parents, to get involved Not much besides providing encouragement. If your kids like to draw, provide some right-sized papers. If s/he likes to dance, be the video crew. If they like to take pictures and video clips, lend them your better equipment for once. And if they like to write or compose, just sit back and lend an ear. But more importantly, seize this opportunity to engage a conversation with your child(ren) on this important life lesson, and channel them to learn to accept diversity and uniqueness of one another which in turn generates feelings of trust and respect.

　　If I haven’t successfully persuaded you to act so far, then let’s all get inspired by these famous quotes:

　　* Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival.- Rene Dubos

　　*I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stifled. I want all the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.- Mohandas K. Gandhi

　　* We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.- Jimmy Carter

　　* By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.- Confucius

　　* Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another\'s uniqueness.- Ola Joseph

　　I am looking forward to be inspired byyour child(ren)’s creations!