This past summer, 2009, I did an Americorps internship called the Jumpstart program. I commuted to northern D.C. (right by Howard University) to work at the Edward C. Mazique Parent-Child Center. This is a preschool for children from low-income families, the age range between as young as 6 weeks old to 5 years old. Most, if not all, of the children's parents both had to work during the day in order to get by; hence the need for a place to stick their kids while they're away. Some of the children were at school from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. I assisted in a classroom with some of the most amazing kids I have ever met, and worked exclusively with one partner child twice a week, for two hours at a time, during our Jumpstart program. This is a program designed to empower the children and to prepare them to succeed in school, social interactions, and all of life's endeavors.
As much as I would like to say that I helped these children to grow, I realize that it was really they that have helped me. I spent each of my summer days in the company of 3 -4 years olds who made me laugh, made me cry, and made me see just how blessed I am. Here are a few of my favorite stories from this summer. Hope you guys enjoy it ^_^.
First Interaction
My first day in the classroom, Miss Jessica (my velvety-voiced partner) and I were supposed to strictly "observe". You just try sticking a couple girls in a preschool and telling them not to interact with the children...you'll see real quick how thats not really an option. To tell the truth, Jess and I really did try to stay off to the side and out of the way. The children all sat in a circle on the alphabet mat for singing time. Some of their all-time favorites included: Have You Seen the Muffin Man, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, and If You're Happy and You Know It (complete with Obama verse: "If you're happy and you know it yell Obama, O-BAM-A!"). The children, naturally curio
us creatures that they are, continued to throw glances our way, stretching and twisting from their cross-legged position. Finally allowed a moment of freedom, they all SO inconspicuously hovered around the two "newcomers". Seated behind a small two-shelf bookcase, Jess and I watched as one particularly small three year old girl (the only asian in the class and perhaps even the whole school) approached the bookcase, stretching across its top. Her hands, inches away from us, played with the wood as she stared up at us, face straight and expressionless. Unsure of how to keep the child from "interacting" with us, I pretended to take notes on my notepad, but it quickly progressed into a bit of a staring contest. Admitting defeat, I winked at her. Smiling, she replied, "Hey little girl." We had interacted. I was one of them.....(I'm not sure she ever figured out that she was in fact the little girl O_o).
JUMPSTART!! HEY JUMPSTART!
One day after school, I proceeded down the road towards the metro, until I realized what I had previously thought to be the random shouting of some child across the street, was really the absolute unrandom shouting of a child, "Jumpstart! HEY! Jumpstart!!!" Since the kids of other classrooms often didn't know all the names of the 7 Jumpstart members, they took to calling us "jumpstart"; this was the magic name associated with the room full of books, toys, crafts, and all sorts of wonders that only 7 children got to skip class for. Turning around to see who was calling, I saw a young girl waving from the opposite side of the street walking with her mother. I had never seen her before, and I'm quite certain she had never actually seen me until now, but apparently she recognized my red Jumpstart shirt. I smiled and waved, then continued on my way. A block and a half away, I reached a stopsign. No sooner than I had stopped, I felt little arms wrap around my waist from behind. Shocked, I twisted around to see the same little girl squeezing the lunch out of me, mashing her face into my back. Slightly awkward, I glanced at her straight-faced mother catching up, and pulled her offspring away from me so I could better see her face. "oh.......hey. How are you?" I asked, so intelligently. She smiled up at me, grabbed my hand in hers, and continued to lead me across the street. Her mom had caught up and held the girls other hand in her own. We walked a few blocks as the 4 year old and I discussed our names, likes/dislikes, and other important thoughts of one her age. Her mom said nothing the
entire time...not even sure she spoke english actually. As we reached their apartment complex, we said our farewells, but just as I turned to leave I heard the frantic, "jumpstart! wait jumpstart!" (nevermind that I had told her my real name:) Holding onto the metal fence, she swung around to face me and said, "hey jumpstart. Tell ya mom I said hello, K". Little girl: my mom says "hello" back.
I LOVE YOU
D.C. is an amazing place. It's a beautiful area full of all sorts of wonders. However, during the summer you always seem to be wet...either you're soaked in rain...or your own sweat. It was one of those 105 degree weather days, plus insane humidity. These are the days you wish the children understood that recess is no longer a benefit. Defeated in the eternal and everlasting game of tag, dripping with sweat I sought the company of the lazy children who hung out on the playscape bridge. The little girl on the bridge looked down at the poor, conquered Jumpstart:
"Jumpstart......I love you."
Shocked and touched by her sincerity, "aaawww, thank you so much! I love you too." and I meant it.
"Jumpstart...I love you soooo much. Cause I thought you was pregnant!"
....WHAT THE WHAT!? O_o "What?!...Why would you think that????"
"Cause I thought you was pregnant....like my sista....so I could take care'a yo baby."
..........I went and found the kids playing tag. Suddenly I didn't feel like sitting anymore.
us creatures that they are, continued to throw glances our way, stretching and twisting from their cross-legged position. Finally allowed a moment of freedom, they all SO inconspicuously hovered around the two "newcomers". Seated behind a small two-shelf bookcase, Jess and I watched as one particularly small three year old girl (the only asian in the class and perhaps even the whole school) approached the bookcase, stretching across its top. Her hands, inches away from us, played with the wood as she stared up at us, face straight and expressionless. Unsure of how to keep the child from "interacting" with us, I pretended to take notes on my notepad, but it quickly progressed into a bit of a staring contest. Admitting defeat, I winked at her. Smiling, she replied, "Hey little girl." We had interacted. I was one of them.....(I'm not sure she ever figured out that she was in fact the little girl O_o). 
