Do you ever wish you could talk to your high school self? Are there opportunities you would have taken, ways you would have changed your study habits, or programs you wish you had known about? Though we try to focus on the present and the future, sometimes we can’t help but think about the past. While you can’t go back in time and speak to your teenage self, why not share that knowledge with the current students back at home?
When I returned from Taiwan this spring, I knew I wanted to share my experiences. But rather than regaling my friends with story after story of my time abroad, I sought ways to help younger students start thinking about their opportunities abroad. My old 4-H club loved the idea of a study abroad presentation for their students, and that presentation led to a second at another 4-H club. This weekend, I’ll speak to students at my local library.
The more times I present to students, the more I look for other chances to speak with them. When presenting, I left most of the structure open to my audience, referencing a presentation but adjusting what I discussed according to their interests. My favorite moments came when the students asked questions. Though I had thought through a few of the common ones, some students surprised me when they asked about politics and media abroad! Answering their questions gave me more chances to reflect on my experiences and gain new understandings of what I encountered abroad.
If you aren’t sure how or what to share with your old communities, think about what you would have wanted to learn. As a 4-H member, I learned much more about agriculture and public speaking, but I didn’t hear much about getting involved outside of my county and state. Yet my experiences in 4-H helped me communicate and make decisions abroad. See how you can pair your interests with what you did in the past! Even if you don’t have all the answers, you can provide students with one more perspective on how their future could look.
If you feel like one of your childhood communities could benefit from your experiences, don’t be afraid to reach out to them! Your old girl scout troop, debate team, or drama club would love to hear what an alumna of their own is doing now. If you’ve heard about other events or programs you could have tried, tell them! Civic engagement can mean reconnecting with your own communities and becoming a resource for the students back home.