Margaret Boyd Scholar Ruby Williams reflects on three summers in Laos
For the entirety of her undergraduate career, Margaret Boyd Scholar Ruby Williams has focused on making the world a better and more educated place―even when that mission required a few international trips.
Ruby, an Athens native and senior studying integrated social studies, has been heavily involved in GIVE Ohio University, a local chapter of a national organization that focuses on local and international philanthropy, for the last three years. She was introduced to GIVE’s volunteer abroad programs after attending an information session for the pro gram during her freshman year. Ruby, who has paid her own way through school, was initially hesitant about paying for an abroad experience. But after learning more about GIVE’s benefits, she was on a flight to Thailand.
Learning from Laos
From 2016 to 2018, Ruby’s involvement with GIVE was focused in Laos, a Southeast Asian country with a growing tourism industry. During her first summer there in 2016, she volunteered in a small fishing village, where s he taught English to locals and worked on building a man-made waterfall that increase d the village’s access to clean water. While these tasks made for a challenging summer, that first trip to Laos ultimately helped Ruby realize her future career goals.
“The first time I went I was very immature. I knew I wanted to teach but I wasn’t really sure why,” she said. “I worked extremely hard and was exhausted the entire time, and I realized teaching was going to be a challenging career. But I also found so much life and happiness in it.”
Ruby’s work ethic didn’t go unnoticed. The following summer, GIVE offered Ruby an internship that enabled her to take on a more active leadership role as she planned curriculum, trained volunteers and took care of basic medical needs. She also continued teaching and delved into some challenging new subjects―including trying to teach verb tenses without the benefit of being fluent in Laos.
“Normally when you’re teaching English without a common language, you draw a picture of a house and point to it and say ‘house.' But there’s no way to do that with tenses,” she said. “It became a necessity to learn Laos and it was cool to see how fast I could learn alongside my students. You have to t each respect and show you appreciate their native culture and language as well.”
This past summer, Ruby was promoted once again―this time to education coordinator for the Laos program. She tasked herself with restructuring the program to make it more individualized to each student, and began implementing literacy tests and formal assessments so that GIVE could track student progress year-round. She also developed programs that supplemented the community’s existing school, including zero waste initiatives and an English teacher’s dormitory. The latter initiative elated to GIVE’s ultimate goal: to replace their volunteers with a permanent Laos English teacher so that Laos students do not remain dependent on American teachers for English instruction.
Finding community
Back in 2016, Ruby often didn’t speak to anyone in the village and was nervous that she would clash with the native cultural norms. Now, she feels completely at home in the community.
“I was welcomed with open arms by my students and their families. I felt so accepted by this amazing group of people who were so different from me, and I’ve felt that every time I’ve returned there,” she said. “I’ve learned that people are actually compassionate. I think growing up in the U.S., you have this idea that people are inherently evil or strangers are inherently dangerous. But actually when you open yourself up to someone, there’s a benefit. ”
The communities where Ruby has served have been deeply touched by her dedication and her “relentless pursuit to make the world a better place,” according to Joe Fernandez, the lead guide for GIVE’s 2018 Laos trip.
“Ruby is someone who truly follows her heart, and when she does something, she does it because she wholeheartedly believes it is the right thing to do,” Fernandez said. “She is an inspiration to those around her and an advocate for those she works her hardest to empower.”
Teaching at home
Back in the U.S., Ruby continues to connect with others. In addition to participating in GIVE, she is one of the many students involved in the Margaret Boyd Scholars Program, which she was drawn to because of the leadership opportunities and unique connections it provides.
“I’d always considered myself passionate about school and taking a leadership role. I hadn’t quite identified as a feminist or really examined my gender at OU, but I thought the Margaret Boyd Program would be a good way to get involved. I really had no idea how big it would be in my life,” said Ruby, who is now a fourth -year scholar. “The community and support system is so great, and it really connects empowered women to empowered women.”
Ruby’s recent involvement with the Margaret Boyd Scholars Program included a backpacking trip to the Grayson Highlands in Virginia. The experience showcased the empowerment that comes with leaving your comfort zone―a sense of empowerment that has, in many ways, defined Ruby’s college years.
This year, Ruby is working as a student teacher at Miller High School, where she teaches world history, economics and world geography. She intends to return to Laos again this summer after her graduation in the spring. Ultimately, she wants to draw from her experiences as a leader and an international teacher to benefit students in Appalachian education systems.
“I want to take my experience as an Appalachian and show what travel did for me and how travel and a global perspective matters,” she said.“ Many students aren’t exposed to a global perspective and quite frankly they don’t have to be. A lot of them are still just trying to graduate high school and maybe get enough training to get a job in the area. So I want to expose them to international markets and show them this is why culture and a global perspective matters, even to someone in rural Ohio.”