Thoughts on Privilege

Privilege.  It can be contorted into such a dirty word.  If anyone dares to point out our privilege, we are immediately put on the defensive.  I have to admit, I have been one of those people who would be highly offended if someone were to call me privileged.  This has slowly been shifting though, as I have chosen to change the lens at which I look at privilege through.

I have been granted many privileges in my life.  The cornerstone of this privilege is that I do not need to think about my privilege unless I choose to do so.

There have been times I have felt undeserving about the privileges I have received as I have not earned them.  Instead of feeling bad about my privilege, I can acknowledge it, and use it to support those who have not seen the same privileges.

Last week we hosted nearly 100 journalism students on campus.  They toured the campus, observed classes, and asked poignant questions during a Q & A session.  At one point, I can't remember what the question was, but Dr. George shared that he does not feel like the work he does is charity, but rather, a duty.

This simple response gave me pause and connected me to a recent village visit that we went on to see where the children come from.  I was worried that I would become overly emotional from seeing the desperate poverty firsthand.  To my surprise, I did not turn into an inconsolable mess and melt to the ground in a puddle of my own tears.  Alternatively, I found myself smiling to see the contentment of the people living in the villages and attending the schools.  They welcomed us with open arms and shared what little they had with us.

I spoke with my dad about the village visit and although he was not with me for this experience, he shared the same sentiment that I did. 

No one complains about their lot in life.  People are content and happy.  We are all human. 

 Local village homes.

Limited resources in a one-room preschool classroom.