Today was graduation day! Even though I haven’t been with this group for their whole term, I still felt so proud all day. These are people who took three months of their life and dedicated it to accomplishing something. Some of them lack secondary education, but it didn’t stop them from wanting to learn a skill to help them do something with their lives.

There is one student who tells me that he is interested in becoming a life coach. I can see that he is very smart and motivated. All of the students seem to look up to him and go to him for advice. I was happy that I could connect him with a current volunteer who happens to be a life coach. There have been a number of people here who come and ask me for information. Usually they want to know how they can go to America, how they can pay for school, or a combination, so I was glad that i could actually be a resource for someone, even if its only getting them in touch with the right people.

The graduation itself was pretty long. Many important people attended and spoke. I think its interesting how everyone must stand whenever the Principle Secretary from the Ministry of Labor and Employment would enter or leave the room. I mean, I think we would all stand if the President of the US walked in, but I don’t know if we would if say the head of the Department of Transportation did. But I couldn’t say for sure. When the Principal secretary was making her speech, at one point she called me to stand with her to introduce me (to whom I don’t know as I knew everyone in the room). In between each speaker a group of students would sing a song. Basotho LOVE to sing and dance. Following the ceremony, we all ate lunch. They made so much food that all of the instructors will go in to work tomorrow only to eat the left over food. Can’t complain.

On a side note, one of my male students asked if I am scared to teach men. I chuckled and asked if i should be? Then I asked if he would be afraid to teach women. He tought that was hilarious. Take that, gender roles!