Go to school. Get a job. Make as much money as you can. The rest is just details.
This is the general mentality I have experienced
in the U.S. Our society is so wrapped around money's finger, that we forget
about the most important things. We are molded from a young age to be future
professionals, not future friends. Future tax-payers, not future lovers. Future
workers, but not future families. Being career focused is great, but what is
lost when we put everything else on the back burner? Prior to this trip, my
college experience and career choice has generally surrounded money as well. I
was engulfed in the American mindset and had no idea that I was even thinking
in such a way. I've always wanted a giant house, a nice car, maybe even a pool
in the backyard. However, I paid no attention to anything I needed to heal from
in the past, a sense of community or any issues of social justice. Coming to
South Africa has made me drastically question and change my former ideals.
Visiting the families in the townships here and in talking with the people of the
communities, I have realized that these people have an amazing sense of
community. They value family and friends above all, the rest is just details. These
people may live in a metal shack in a township in Africa, they may not have a
car or even own a pair of shoes but they are truly rich.
