The art of embracing an optimistic mindset regardless of the circumstances at hand describes extensively the virtue of hope (MacInnis & Chun, 2007). Hope is an attribute anchored in an individual’s mind over time through intended choice to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel and morning is always about to crop in when the night is darkest. The target group of this program entails a group of students from disadvantaged background having the pressure of competing and relating with students from well off backgrounds. These students are brilliant with magnificent array of talents to be not only nurtured but also explored. They have a need for a mentor who will direct them on the DOs and the DONTs as far as life skills are concerned; a person who will give them a reason to smile trough the ugly phases of the life that they face; and actualize the significance of hope in them. Besides, they need providence of the basic needs and academic materials to streamline their operations as well as make them competitive in the job market after their graduation.
While a class containing students may seem equal in terms of status of learning, the invisible socioeconomic factor greatly influences the needs of these students, especially their mentoring. They might seem normal and keeping the routine standards of an institution but they are dying inside. Should a trigger be significant, then their inner self will be projected. In such a case, mitigation measures to address the specific issue prove futile due to the delay. This is very evident from suicidal cases that erupt in most learning institutions. “A student killed themselves without a solid reason.” Such cases leave a puzzle that only the departed soul can solve (OECD, 2010).
The very first concern of Students with disadvantaged background is the economic concern. Lack of financial empowerment renders anyone unable to access any desired resources. To the target group, it is the inability to access and enjoy the basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing. Lack of these basic needs renders them vulnerable to molestations and abuse, especially to opportunistic individuals who claim to be in positions to provide the basic needs to most of these disadvantaged students. Such ordeals affects their self-esteem and the confidence to operate within their jurisdiction. They start alienating themselves and behave as if they are strangers in this world. Most have so many questions that are unanswered. This is the very reason why hope comes in handy. The affected students would have hope addressing them in a more convincing tone since it covers the scenarios that cannot be explained by logic. As a result, hope will be the reason for them to pursue their dreams and interests in life.
While most of us may think that that students in a school setting do not experience problems, or have concerns beyond the academic scale, then we have been wrong all along. It quite evident that students in the 21st century spend more time with their peers and teachers than parents. This exposes them to an all-rounded lifestyle. Such a lifestyle comes with its own challenges that have to be addressed specifically. This brings me to the other concern which is the psychological well-being of the students. Such student suffer from traumatic experiences most of which are horrific.
Think of an orphaned young girl! She is at the mercies of guardians who might be leopards in the sheep’s skin. She is vulnerable to molestation and child abuse by whoever that decides to host her. Every morning such a child wakes up, the environment meets her with threats. This is just a fear that the child might be going through should she suspect. What if it happens, she would be traumatized, hateful and judgmental. She would not have a reason to pay attention in the classroom. The extremes might lead her to the streets where life is tougher and rougher! Getting such a child to her right senses needs the power of hope. The same scenario is very applicable to the boy child ( Tyler, 2015).
The aftermath of such an ordeal leads to the students dropping out of the learning institution say high schools and universities. Being out of school, they indulge in unproductive business activities which lead to crime. Such a trend is threatening to the well-being of the society. ( Sellgren, 2017) Reports that the number of students for disadvantaged background is at its peak in England. This is an extrapolation of what is happening in the rest of the parts of the world.
The students who have been disadvantaged happen to find it difficult in securing the professional or career opportunities due to their mindset. These students show quite low literacy levels due to them having been embraced a local and traditional culture whose education system is not competitive enough. Unlike those students from high social classes who have been exposed to literacy at an early stage. As it can be observed such competition is unbalanced making it unfair and yet these students have to be rated and graded on the same scheme. Furthermore these students have an unstructured families. Most of them cannot trace their true and real families. This affects their learning parameters and as a result, it reduces their performance, making them more helpless ( Considine & Zappal‡ , 2002).
Life experience has taught them that life is had and there is no future for them. This becomes the beginning of their end. To them, they think that the golden opportunities such as the best jobs and businesses opportunities are only for those with advantaged background. The mentality that these students from higher social status have connection have made the students from disadvantaged background not to even fight for these opportunities. As a result, they end up not even meeting the requirements of most job descriptions or business tenders making them unable to secure these splendid opportunities at their disposal. Most students with amazing talents end up wasting them simply because they do not believe on themselves. A demonstration of hope would change the way they look at things. It would change their mindset (Crawford, Dearden, Micklewright, & Vignoles, 2017).
The need of reaching out to the disadvantaged students and giving them a voice in the society prompts for the establishment of such a program. These disadvantaged student have been unable to find people who they can be able to trust and share their inmost deepest desires. Reaching out to them with a kind gesture, a loving spirit and a representation of hope would go a long way to meeting them at the point of their needs. The guides and inspirations that are anchored to the program for its sustainability entail: mobilization of resources, both financial and infrastructural resources, so as provide for the basic needs of the student group as well as facilitate them develop their talents; endeavor to partner with relevant stakeholders to supplement the student’s core objectives in line of academics and talents in terms of offering professional expertise with relevance; putting in place forums of keynote speakers who are living examples of people whose background did not define their future. Having such reality, most of the students will be able to compare, contrast and relate. In such a case, the inferences made would be more optimistic which reflects hope.
The program will also endeavor to support the student as well as mentor them to levels where they can support themselves and live on their own or even support the younger students in need. Having the program spearheading equity in education through participating in the competitive exercises with those from well-off background and ensuring that the group is quite competitive (OECD, 2012). Having such a program running, it would reduce school drop-out cases, suicidal cases and crime rates to a greater length. This enhances s healthy society where everyone has access to resources without feeling discriminated or inferior. This projection will enhance socio-economic growth and community empowerment through high level of training and education. These all together leads to high quality of life in the given society.
One key attributes of hope that distinguishes it from the rest is its audacious nature. Hope would equip the disadvantaged children with the courage to face challenges in their studies and also the perseverance to endure hardships and prevail in temptations and traps that come with being a vulnerable student. An example is the provision for cheap labor and slavery which most vulnerable students succumb to so as to make ends meet. The desperate state of the students make people take advantage of them to malicious extends making them not to find a reason to live (Obama, 2010).
Hope is actualized and made real through inspirational stories of successful individuals or groups in the society who endeavored to hope for a better future and embraced the virtue of hope. Using the 44th president of United States of America, he believed in himself despite the fact that he could have been despised based on his race. He chose not to listen to the negative opinions of people. He focused on his course and embraced focus and determination. As a result, he became the first black president of the United States. Such a story should not only inspire the students from disadvantaged backgrounds but also give them hope of a brighter future provided they remain on their course and stand up for what they believe. One key products of embracing hope is that it is capable of producing very resilient individuals with determination beyond measurable limits (OECD, 2010).
References
Considine, G., & Zappal‡ , G. (2002). Factors Influencing the Educational Performance of Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds. Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales.
Crawford, C., Dearden, L., Micklewright, J., & Vignoles, A. (2017). Family Background and University Success: Differences in Higher Education Access and Outcomes in England. United Kengdom: OXFORD University Press.
MacInnis, D. J., & Chun, H. E. (2007). Understanding Hope and Its Implications for Consumer Behavior: I Hope Therefore I consume. Boston: NOW the essence of Knowledge.
Obama, B. (2010). The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.
New York: Text Publishing Company.
OECD. (2010). PISA PISA 2009 Results: Learning Trends Changes in Student Performance since 2005 (Vol. V). United Kingdom: OECD.
OECD. (2012). Equity and Quality in Education Supporting Disadvantaged Students and Schools. East Jerusalem: OECD.
Sellgren, K. (2017). Rise in poorer students dropping out of university. England: BBC.
Tyler, S. (2015). There Is Hope. Bloomington: AuthorHouse Publishers.
