For the Love of Learning
by Melanie Hemry
Millicent Macauley explained the upcoming assignment to her high school students in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She watched their faces as they asked questions. In a country where school wasn’t free, these were the fortunate children whose parents made sacrifices to get them educated.
Millicent had once been among them. Although both of her parents desired a higher education, neither had the opportunity. Her father, a retired policeman, and her mother, a homemaker and seamstress, had made it their goal to educate all six of their children.
Millicent remembered how she and her siblings teased their father: “Of course you should get a diploma! You read all of our books!”
He had, too. He’d devoured their textbooks and assigned reading, all for the love of learning.
After school that day, Millicent made her way to Lumley Beach. She had a lot of thinking to do. What better place to do it than strolling along the boardwalk? She listened as the birds chirped, felt the ocean breeze on her face, and watched fishing boats heading for shore.
BVOV : 13