Seventh grade students spent their social studies class in the presence of an important visitor from the United Nations on Friday. Isaac Bayoh, a Permanent Youth Representative in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Mr Bayoh spent the day bringing the work of the U.N. alive by giving students a virtual tour around the inside of U.N. headquarters in New York; highlighting the U.N.’s 17 sustainable development goals and explaining how young people around the world are promoting positive change and progress on these goals.
The seventh-grade social studies curriculum at Middlebrook explores and discusses the role the United Nations plays in global development, peace-building, protecting human rights, and promoting sustainability in all regions of the world.
Mr. Bayoh also spoke about his experiences growing up in Sierra Leone and emigrating to the United States when he was only 17 years old. He talked about believing in himself and believing in the power of being intentional, inspiring and empathetic. Isaac explained how the kindness of others coupled with his own hard work and perseverance led him to a prestigious position at the U.N. at the age of 20. In his presentation he referenced some long-standing Middlebrook values - "Character is what you do or say when no one else is looking." and "We treat others as we want to be treated". Students left with a new appreciation of how hard work and seemingly small acts of kindness could dramatically alter someone's life.
‘You are going to change the world, you matter, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something’
“We hope that students left feeling inspired and empowered in their ability to achieve anything they set their minds to and to create and influence positive changes in the world’ said seventh grade social studies teacher Jen Kaminski. After the presentation, one student reported that they felt "inspired and more confident" after hearing Isaac speak,"It was a life-changing 40 minutes".
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