What do you want to be when you grow up? What’s your favorite thing to do at school? And if you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go?

Every summer, we ask students at Grace Emmanuel School to tell us a little more about themselves. From our youngest preschoolers to our high school students, 324 children and teenagers shared their favorite activities, the things they’re good at, and their hopes for the future.

And while every student has a story of their own, some interesting patterns emerged.

First, there is a major desire among our student body to be part of solving Haiti’s health care gap. Of the 298 students who shared what they want to be when they grow up, more than half hope to work in health care. We counted 108 aspiring doctors and 53 future nurses, along with four students who specifically want to become pediatricians.

Others dream of becoming teachers, engineers, mechanics, lawyers, musicians, and business owners. Answers we only heard once included agronomist, florist, computer scientist, surgeon, accountant, and secretary. There are three aspiring pastors and two pilots at GES. It’s encouraging to see so many different interests and ambitions represented in our classrooms.

What about the school day itself? Math came out on top as the students’ favorite subject, with Creole and French also popular choices. When asked what they’re best at, math again received the most answers.

But there’s more to school than academics. When we asked students to name their favorite school activity, celebrating holidays and playing sports were nearly tied for first place. Soccer, of course, received plenty of mentions of its own.

We also asked about life at home. Students told us they most enjoy playing and cooking with their families. And when it comes to household chores, washing dishes and sweeping were the most popular answers, with cleaning and carrying water close behind. (We wonder if their parents would agree!) Grinding flour, watching the goats, and selling at the market also made the list.

Perhaps one of the most interesting questions was this: If you could go anywhere for just one day, where would you go?

The United States was the most popular answer, followed by Brazil, France, and Canada. Others dreamed of visiting places closer to home, including Cap-Haïtien in northern Haiti. And several kids mentioned Source Matelas—the home they left in 2023.

These answers give us a little window into the lives of the children and young people who fill the classrooms at Grace Emmanuel School. They love to celebrate. They’re learning math, physics, and multiple languages, playing soccer and jumping rope, helping at home with every task imaginable, and still holding onto dreams of what the future might hold.

Life outside the classroom is marked by uncertainty for our students. But inside these classrooms, they continue to learn, grow, laugh, and make plans for tomorrow.

Thank you for being part of making that possible. As you pray for Grace Emmanuel School, pray not only for the safety, education, and future of our students, but also that they would grow to know and love the Lord and use the unique gifts He has given them to serve others.