Team Update Thursday: Memories of a first day at school
My last few moments as an eighth grade student were during the summer of 2000. As my life progressed over the past ten years, I never took a step back into a middle school again. That all changed on the first full day of service I experienced at Roger Williams Middle School four weeks ago. I wish there was a perfect word to describe exactly how I felt as I traveled a few steps further along my City Year journey that day. The fear of a disconnection between the students and myself was a great challenge I tried to coach myself through that morning.
I remember stepping onto the school yard. A mix of intimidation, excitement and anticipation fueled my system. I was still waiting for my confidence to kick in, and then it happened. As I made my way to the front entrance towards my teammates, I heard a voice shout “Yo, City Year!”. I turned my head towards the sound of the voice and saw a little boy who appeared to be in the middle of a spontaneous football game with a group of friends. He was wearing a black hooded sweater, stylish ripped jeans and the coolest Mohawk I‘ve seen in a while. He grinned from ear to ear at the sight of my eye-catching uniform. The boy sent a rush of energy my way through the form of a quick wave. His focus went right back to the game just in time as he avoided the rush of another young excited peer who was trying to steal the football from him.
Our brief interaction was a short but reassuring greeting. A greeting that made me realize the importance of my role in that child’s life and the commitment he would be expecting me to live by. For a few more minutes, I watched the students as they played and socialized among one another. The sound of the bell brought my focus back to the school. I walked through the front entrance of Roger Williams Middle School that morning with a realization of my potential, an understanding of my purpose and a heart full of pride.
By: Conceptia G.
