Seekers' thoughts

I was fortunate to teach at a private school in Nablus, a beautiful city in Palestine, in the West Bank. I was there for 10 months, teaching 10^th Grade History for the most part, and Religion to 9^th Grade.  

I feel truly blessed to have come across, spend time with, teach and learn from, such an incredible bunch of students. Though it was a private school, these weren’t just a bunch of rich kids. If I were to summarise what I saw, I would say these were true youths.  

What do I mean?  

Youths, because they had incredible energy: vibrant, palpable, infectious, sometimes uncontrollable lol, passionate. 

Youths, because they were at once incredibly mature while also immature (as is usually the case at the age of 14/15, and rightfully so) in an endearing way.  

Youths, because they were innocent but also mischievous and troublesome.  

However, more than anything, they were so funny, and so loving. Every time I walked in for work, I was greeted with so much love and respect. These students made me feel incredibly loved. And the best part is that this treatment wasn’t just for me, but even non-Muslim American or British teachers. Whoever cared for them, and showed love for Palestine, they returned the favor tenfold. And that is what I took away from my time in Palestine as a whole. They are a people who have so much love in them, a love that even in the confusing adolescent stage, and with so much terrible things happening in their land, does not stop burning. It shines so bright. They are not being taught hate; they are being taught about justice and love. And these students whom I miss dearly made me see the light and beauty of youth that I hadn’t seen in a long time. I hope to meet them again soon.