Last week I had to say MY FIRST GOODBYE of my YAV year.
I have been working three afternoons a week at an after school tutoring program with children from the Esperanza Charter School. The majority of the children at the tutor program were raised speaking both Spanish and English, and many of the kids have parents who don’t speak English. At tutoring we help the children with their homework, check their homework to ensure it’s correct, and read out loud with each other to work on the correct pronunciation of English words. On Monday and Tuesday about 20 elementary aged children visit us. I tutor two 1st graders and one 2nd grader. I have worked with these three precious young ladies for the past year and have loved getting to know them. We love to read Junie B Jones books together. We took turns reading out loud to each other and had a lot of fun laughing at silly Junie B. I would help them with their homework. My 2nd grader would always finish her homework first and then would become my tutor assistant and help tutor one of the 1st grade girls. Of course, there was also time for PLAY! The church where tutoring was held has a beautiful park for the children to run around in and play four-square. We would also play board games and enjoy snacks prepared by yours truly! I spent a lot of time with those three lovely ladies, but I also got to know every tutoring kid really well. We had wonderful afternoons filled with laughter and cheers on the playground and limited tears. On Wednesday afternoons, the middle school kids came to tutoring. We usually had about 12 middle schoolers, and they stayed longer then the younger kids because they only spent one day a week with us. We would also have a snack and visit the church park for some fresh air. Wednesday tutoring was less one-on- one and more of an hour-long study hall period where the children did their homework and the tutors where available to assist when needed. I often end up working with any elementary kids who tag along with their older siblings to Wednesday tutoring. At 5:15 PM we would do an activity that I planned, usually something semi-educational. We’ve done everything from origami to making slime to practicing meditation. A handful of times we went to local high school events such as an open house, a band concert and a wrestling match. Every Wednesday, we would have community dinner at the church prepared by a member of the congregation and joined by congregation members. After dinner, we had a bible study, usually prepared the head of Mid-City Ministries, Ms. Perry. She is awesome and taught me a lot during these classes (even though they were directed at middle schoolers). Wednesday’s have always been my longest day of the week as the children got picked up at 7:30 PM, and often I didn’t make it home until after 8:00 PM. However long my Wednesdays were, they were always rewarding. I got to learn all about these middle schoolers. I learned who was crushing on who, I knew when a 5th grader got proposed to by her boyfriend, I learned about each of their families and their home life, I learned how one family wanted to get a dog and how another had to move because their house had flooded after a storm. These kids had become my buddies, and I always look forward to Wednesday’s when I’d hear the latest gossip and middle school drama. Last week was the final week of tutoring. We had a graduation on Tuesday for the elementary aged students, and on Wednesday we took the older kids to a trampolines park and had ice cream sundaes. I have seen these children almost every week I’ve been here in New Orleans, and it is sad for me NOT to see their joyful faces today. At 3:08 PM on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, I would be walking across the street to pick them up from school. As I approached they would be running toward me asking me what the snack was for the day or if they could be the one to hold the ‘Children at Play' sign. They would also be greeting one another with hugs. They all knew each other so well and enjoyed each other’s company. They were excited to spend the afternoon together because most of them were in different grades or classes and barely saw each other throughout the school day. Tutoring was like a small family. They looked out for each other and for each other’s siblings. These children have been such a huge part of my time here in New Orleans. They taught me patience, showed me numerous four-square techniques, picked many flowers for me to wear in my hair, and filled my ears with constant joyful laughter. These children mean so much to me, and I hope tutoring has made an impact on each of their lives. Chances are I won’t see some of them ever again. I won’t know what high school they end up going to or who is crushing on who next year. I won’t know if they move to another state or back to the countries their families are from. A handful of them will come to summer camp this summer (which I am SO excited for) but many of them will be visiting family over their summer break. I will simply have to cherish the time I had with them and pray for them, their families and their future. I hope that the time we did have together has made a difference in their lives because I know it has in mine. Please check out the Mid-City Ministries Facebook page for more information about the program and for photos from the past year of tutoring!
1 Comment
Janet Huddleston
5/15/2018 09:59:56 am
All of the children, AND ALL OF US, have been blessed to know and work with you. I got to observe more than to work alongside you. I noticed how much the kids loved being with you, how well they listened when you talked, and how well you listened when they talked. Those hugs and flowers and confidential conversations were given because they trust and love you.
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