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| Graduating class of 2010 at Mindszenty High School, a catholic high school in Palau |
There are several influences that have led me to my research study exploring the journey and lives of Micronesian students in and out of college. First, I am guided by my own personal experiences; I have personally experienced the benefits of holding a college degree. When I completed my undergraduate studies, earned my degree, and moved back home to Palau, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Family, friends, and people I just knew (and didn’t even know) acknowledge what I had done. They sort of put their confidence in you and look up to you, too. This was an overwhelming experience, but I learned to be humble and much more motivated to continue my goals of becoming an educator and further my education. More importantly, I found a good paying job and was able to help my mother provide for my family. Although taking on the responsibility of “provider” alongside my mother was stressful, the feeling and thought of being able to help my family and knowing they are relieved of some of the financial burden made me truly happy.
Attending college, for me, has been a struggle but a great learning experience. I have learned to become more independent and open minded. I have had the greatest opportunity to meet people from different cultures and background, and this has also been an important part of my learning in college and life outside of school. When I returned home, I saw things in a new perspective and saw how minute my little problems were. For example, I really have learned not to want for much. Before, coming from a small island knowing that the United States has so much to offer in terms of finance and other things, such as going to the movies, shopping, and eating out, I felt I wanted more than just the life in a small island. But after having gone through college to manage on my own, you really do appreciate the little things, your family, and home. You begin to understand that your needs can come second. More importantly, you really get your priorities straight and prioritize those that actually mean something, such as family and securing a good future for yourself that can also benefit others. I have learned from all of these that I hope to instill in others the same values that I have come to have, independence, and confidence.
Secondly, while I was teaching remedial English reading and writing at Palau Community College during the summer of last year, a few of my students were eager to find out how I was able to finish college with little to no help from my family and having come from a low income family as well. In addition, they wanted to know how I financed my education; how was I able to apply to a college in the United States; how can a student or where does a student start in the process of applying to college? I began to wonder if there was an office at the college that help students who are interested in attending college in the US or any where overseas.
I understand the concerns of these students because I had the same ones. Then I think, if I can do it, I am confident they can do it if they really set their heart to this goal. Palau and its people are great supporters of education. Almost everyone I know is pushing their kids to attend school. Families desire for their kids to earn college degrees. The island nation works towards improving education. However, we struggle in resources to help our students reach the high standards of education in other parts of the world. Our students struggle when the attend US colleges because of the language barrier and the lower standard of education offered in Palauan schools. Reading and writing remains to be an issue in our schools. Despite this, our students understand and desire for that college education and what it can mean for them, their families, and the island of Palau.
Finally, I realize that Palau is becoming more westernized and reliant on the US dollar to make a good living. We remain to keep to traditional ways of living, such as farming and fishing for our food. However, even fish and taro are being sold at the market while taro patches and lands for farms are being lost to infrastructure, climate change, and loss of traditional teachings that enable our children and young Palauans to continue the tradition of taro patch farming and land farming. Therefore, education that will help young Palauans earn a living and give back to the community is important. Hopefully, while studying, they will also realize the importance of our culture and traditions and in turn will want to learn the ways of taro patch farming and land farming for tapioca or sweet potatoes, food staples that have sustained older Palauan generations. If foreign countries decide that they cannot provide monetary assistance to Palau and other Micronesian islands, we should be ready to support ourselves. We need to be our own nurses, doctors, teachers, farmers, plumbers, cashiers, principals, janitors, electricians, bakers, computer technicians, biologists, marine biologists, environmentalists, and all other professionals in order to sustain our island. I believe there education is one key to helping us to prosper.
The study of improving college access and success for Micronesian students and motivating them to return home to their home islands to work and give back is challenging. Are there willing participants who want to share their experience? Will they see me as an intruder? If I ask them of their plans to return home after college and they tell me no, will I find myself urgin them to? I need to separate myself, not completely, but from the notion that I cannot influence any of my participants in this study. Would that mean an ethical violation? I believe so! I do not hope to force any young Palauan to return home, but I hope they discover the need and benefit for them and their island if they do go back home. I need to be reminded that I am doing a study and avoid getting overwhelmed myself and become completely immersed where bias comes to play. That would not be good at all!
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