A Passion for Teaching: US Scholar Somalita’s Story

December 4, 2024 – Every year, exceptional graduates from Harpswell’s Cambodian Women’s Leadership Program are selected as US Scholars for a year of study in America. This August, Larch Somalita travelled to Memphis, Tennessee to begin her year at Christian Brothers University (CBU). For Somalita, who graduated with a degree in English Literature from the Institute of Foreign Languages this past year, both Harpswell and CBU have been key steps towards her dreams of being a teacher.

Lighting the Spark

While most of the children that lived in my home community attended public schools, I was a bit different as I attended a local American school from quite a young age. As a child, one inspiring moment for me was when I went to study at a public Cambodian government school for two weeks. I still recall how the more engaged, and seemingly smarter, students were close to the teacher, while the others were sitting further away, disengaged from the lesson. Even though all the students were in the same class, the learning environment was different for them. Thinking back to that time, it really motivated me to be a teacher.

I also learned a lot from my parents, who are both teachers at government schools. Their experiences showed me how teaching works; watching them helped me reflect on what I would have to do to become a teacher. To achieve this goal in life, I’ve always had my grandmother as my supporter and role model. She is a farmer and encouraged me to pursue my education as she didn’t want me to be in the same situation as her. She taught me to be very independent, and motivated me to pursue my dreams, no matter what they were.

Becoming a Harpswell Changemaker 

Harpswell is not just an opportunity for education, it is also a safe space for growing. My parents put a lot of trust in me when I applied to Harpswell; as a young girl with no relatives in the city, it would have been really hard for me to attend university if I hadn’t been accepted into Harpswell. Because my parents think highly of Harpswell, they felt I was safe too - they knew I was always going to be taken care of at Harpswell.

My biggest lessons at Harpswell were personal: leadership skills and sisterhood. At Harpswell, the expectation to be a changemaker of Cambodia helps us become leaders, not just followers. Being able to think critically, outside-the-box and look at society with different perspectives really developed us as individuals and leaders.

At Harpswell, we see ourselves as sisters, even though we all come from different backgrounds and families. From the first day I arrived, I was surprised by how friendly everyone was. They were always smiling and asking, “How are you?”. As the youngest in the room, I could always count on the older generations for their support. 

Expanding Horizons Through Self-Reflection

Harpswell has given me opportunities and connections that not a lot of people have. Coming to the US as a US Scholar has been a chance for me to explore and learn more about myself in the diverse community at CBU.

My classes this semester all really connect to each other. The most useful has been Introduction to Education. This course is not just about teaching skills but also how to engage my own skills and interests when teaching. My favorite class so far is Sociology. We often have discussions about our culture and society, and everyone is always so engaged in cultural sharing. It gives me a sense of friendliness and familiarity. 

Most of all, it has been a really good experience because I have joined a lot of activities and met so many diverse people. In Cambodia, we focus primarily on learning and not enough on extracurricular experiences during university; but here, we are able to engage in anything possible. For example, every Friday is frisbee day, so we always go to play frisbee which has been a new experience for me; we also meet with other students in CBU’s Honor Program every week, sharing stories and new cultural experiences. 

As I look towards returning to Cambodia and pursuing my path as a teacher, I don’t know yet whether I will want to teach at a private school or government school but I do know that I want to bridge the gap for students who haven’t had these opportunities so that all students feel included.  For now, I am enjoying being able to grow and find opportunities to make an impact in my personal development first. I know this will make me an even better teacher in the future!