When Reality Hits
Another month has gone by
here in New Orleans and I’m amazed by the speed at which the semester is coming
to an end. November was another eventful month, filled with tests, trips home
for self-care and holidays, and service as usual. While there were a number of
meaningful moments this month, there is one that stands out above the rest.
On a typical Friday at the
school where we serve my classmates and I had the opportunity to tour the
facility with one of our supervisors. During our tour, we had the privilege of
meeting many of the individuals that are in essence the heartbeat of the school.
In addition to meeting some of the staff, there was a moment where we all
gathered on the playground to be with the people that make our work worthwhile:
the students. As we stood there, our supervisor shared a fact that rattles me
at my core even to recollect. In response to one of my classmates’ questions,
he looked at the students and then back to us and said “The reality is that some
of these kids will end up pregnant, others will drop out, some will end up in
prison, and then there are those that will be killed.” It is one thing to hear
statistics, but it’s something entirely different to be face to face with the
people that they will one day refer to. In spite of the heaviness of that
realization, he made it clear to us that his intent was not to paint some sort
of sob story for the kids. In fact, he made it very clear that there would be
several of them that would also go on to do very well. That our kids are some
of the most brilliant, creative, and intuitive people we would ever meet. Not
to mention that the teachers there are helping save lives one hour at a time.
But what he did want was to let us into the reality of what our kids are up
against every day they wake up.
Hearing this fact was one
of the most sobering experiences I have ever had in twenty-three short years of
life. But while it jarred me, it simultaneously taught me that when reality
hits, our only option is to face it, just like our kids do each day.
See you all in December.
Hours this Month: 5.5
Total Hours: 27.5
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