The End

Its so weird. It feels like yesterday that I was filling out my entrance paper work and just meeting the team. It feels like yesterday that we were planning and crafting weeks in advance for sessions to come. It feels like just yesterday we went into Appletree to observe our classroom. Now, it was just yesterday I sat with my team and planned graduation. The end does not seem near, my time with jumpstart cannot be ending. SO much has happened, but it hasn’t been enough time. We met all of our goals and made a real connection with our kids, but I am not ready leave. I have thirteen children and one teacher who mean the world to me. They brighten the darkest days. I am not ready to say goodbye to them—I am not ready to leave.

 My departure from Jumpstart symbolizes so much. I will officially be done with half of my college career. I will be leaving for Ghana (GHANA!) in three months. Those two things alone are enough to send nervous chills down my spine and raise goosebumps on my body. This is the final stretch. It is my last three weeks of jumpstart. This year it is so much different from last year. Last year I had the promise of returning to the program. I had the promise of continuing to do what I love.

            But this end does not need to be followed by sadness. In fact it should be celebrated.

            I will not let this hold me down. There are still three weeks left; three weeks to continue doing what I love; three weeks to finish out strong—stronger that we have been the entire year. Although I may not be ready to say goodbye, I am ready to continue the hard work my corps members and myself have been putting in and stepping up. Here is to the last push. Here is to the last three weeks. Here is to doing what I love.

~Brooke Williams

Team Leader

Team Learning 1