It’s a small world after all

If I can make one wish it would be that the world would operate like the classroom I sit in.  In one room there are individuals from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Haiti, Canada, and so much more including me from Brooklyn, New York.  The dialogue during our time together is not always easy, it can be painful and passionate at times, but it is always respectful and worth so much in the end. 

I would be remiss if I did not disclose the whole truth which is that the classroom I refer to is in Touro University for those studying to be social workers. 

{mosads}The immediate thought I am sure, is that social workers automatically have bleeding hearts and are looking to help the world.  This may be true, but we are all still human beings with our own set of rules, ethics, values, our own preconceived notions, and our own background or families and friends preaching their own opinions which may not always be the most peaceful. 

I am not naïve enough to believe that every one of us is completely welcoming and supportive in every aspect of our lives, but that is the point of my wish. 

In the safety of our classroom, in that cocoon of sorts, we can speak from our hearts.  We can say things like, “growing up I was always taught that Jews were money hungry and I didn’t always question it.”  It allows for comments like “In my neighborhood we were all Dominican and we all hated Puerto Ricans.”  We can say things like, “You’re Muslim, what is your opinion on what is happening with extremism and how does that affect you.” 

We talk about our own reality without fear of being politically incorrect. The beauty is we fight, we struggle, we are honest and we come out of the other side with an understanding that can never be replicated by books or watching any media outlet.  We come out on the other side with respect and comfort to be able to pick apart everything we thought we knew.  We come out on the other side with awe for someone else’s experience, in another religion, in another country, in another perspective.  Most of all we come out of the other side with the feeling in our bones that we don’t know anything, but wow, is it amazing to learn. 

We walk down the streets viewing everyone in a different light.  Not as a label of what or who they look like, but with the thought of “who can this person be?”; “what did this person experience?”; “what gift can this person offer me in terms of teaching me something about myself and humanity?”  I wish the world would operate like my classroom because then and only then can I envision peace. 

Growing up, my experience was with the orthodox Jewish community; insulated and protective.  It was wonderful for what it was at the time and I am who I am partly because of that experience.  I am however, extraordinarily grateful that I expanded my view, that I have met amazing individuals from all over the globe who I would have probably walked right past in the street, but would never have had the special unique experience of speaking with them and learning from them. 

I am a different person because of it, I am a better person because of it, I am a peaceful person because of it and the world needs more of that, more people like that. 

My wish is something I pray for and will continue to pray for because when you experience the beautiful landscape of what our world can ultimately be, you can’t let that go.

Verschleiser is a noted speaker and writer on the subject of child safety. She has educated thousands of individuals on the topic of protecting children from sexual abuse through the curriculums created by her and Magenu.org, a national not for profit organization she co-founded with her husband Eli Verschleiser. Follow Shani @DrSVerschleiser