Summary of my life: “I
travel a lot I hate having my life disrupted by routine” - Caskie Stinnett
Yesterday, October
22, 2012 was my best day yet at NPH-DR. It
was such a good day that even when things went badly I still maintained my
smile. Yesterday so many good things happened
starting from the fact that one of my co-workers told me that I have “saved the
8th grade,” by individually tutoring one of her problem
students. Unfortunately, one of the 8th
grade boys cannot focus and often distracts others when he is with his
classmates however, when I work with him, he is always well behaved and does
the work that I assign to him.
Therefore, as a favor, my colleague asked me to work with him one-on-one
so that he will not take away from the other students’ learning
experience. I did just that, and it was
amazing to see him sit still and do the work that he told his teacher that he
would never do because he hated the subject.
I am realizing that all he needs is a little one-on-one time and he can
do anything! Continuing on one of the
girls from my house, Santa Clara, who has always been very quiet and whom I
have never really heard speak, spoke yesterday!
She was asking me questions about my day and telling me about hers. I could not believe it. I have literally only heard her speak a few
sentences since I arrived here, 4 months ago, but today we had a conversation. Also, another girl from my house, who is
always a little hard to get along with, kissed me on the cheek yesterday! She even hugged me and sat on my lap when
normally she ignores me or speaks badly about me in the house. I was so surprised by her actions but I just
took it all in and enjoyed the time that we had together. To top it off one of the boys, from the older
kid’s house, would usually calls me mean names and always makes fun of me was
nice to me yesterday. He walked up to me
with a huge smile and gave me a fist pound and said “Maya ¿somos amigos,
verdad?” (Maya we are friends right?). I
was so excited that I returned the fist pound and responded, “¡Claro que sí! ¡Seremos
amigos para siempre!” (Yes of course, we
will be friends forever!). I think
yesterday was a good day for both the kids and for myself. Now that I have been in the Dominican
Republic for four months, to date, I think the kids are now more accustomed to
me being present in their lives daily as I am with them. I also think I am starting not to let things
get to me as much as I did in the beginning.
One thing that the kids love to do is push your buttons. Thus, they
tease or make fun of the volunteers but I feel that they do this out of love
and wanting attention. Now that I have
learned this and other ways to relate to them, I think this maybe the reason
that yesterday was such a great day! I
plan to continue going on like this so there can be more great days to come.
The first picture on
my blog is of a young boy who is my favorite kid at NPH-DR. He and I are basically one! It all started the first time I ever set foot
in his house, Santa Lucia, which is the baby house where the youngest kids
live. No one knew me then but within 2
seconds of seeing me this adorable young boy ran up to me and grabbed my
leg. He showed me around the house even
though he still does not have the sufficient vocabulary to describe everything
in the house, I felt instantly welcome.
Since then when I come into his house or when I go to visit him during
recess at school he always stops what he is doing yells “MAYA,” and does a
waddle run over to me and jumps into my arms.
I love this little guy and he puts a smile on my face everyday. When he first came to NPH he was very ill and
malnourished; he also had trouble speaking and could not walk. Now he has done a complete 360 and is always
running and speaking to me. His smile
also lights up any room that he enters and puts mine to shame! I love that he is such a happy kid and am
always so excited to see him each day. I
always think of how fortunate I am to spend an entire year with such wonderful
kid.
One lesson that I
have to continuously remember but have carried with me from college is using my
resources. I feel that often times we as
human beings just want to do things ourselves or we feel that we must do things
alone. Perhaps if we ask someone to help
us they will say no and we don’t want to feel that rejection leading us not to
ask at all. Or maybe we feel that we do
not want to be a burden to someone else so thus we let the weight of the task
fall on our shoulders. However, I am
continuing to learn that it does not have to be that way and that there are so
many people around that can help us and that is what resources are for, to be
used! For example, in college, at first
I was to proud to go and ask for help but then as I struggled with some courses
I quickly learned that tutors, going to teacher’s office hours and asking
friends for help really helped me see improvements in my grades. As for being here, a lot of times I have
struggled with some of the things the kids do or say. However, I am learning that the tías,
administration and other volunteers can be great support and really helpful in
my time of need. I guess what I am learning
is not to be to proud to ask for help sometimes because I have found that
others are more than willing to lend me a hand when needed.
Finally, just through
the tutoring program I have really learned how important reading really can
be. I know that the old adage states
that reading is fundamental but I really never noticed that until I encountered
students that struggle with reading. I
have noticed that without being able to read it really can limit one’s capacity
to express one’s self. As I talked to a
good friend of mine, who is currently finishing her year of service with Teach
for America, she reminded me that reading gives you the ability to connect with
the world around you and without such a vital tool it limits one’s
capacities. As I work more and more with
different students in the tutoring program I find that I am able to provide
them with this special tool. I do this
by teaching them new words that they have never encountered before and giving
them a new way to connect with the world around them.
No comments:
Post a Comment