Outnumbered

            The look the children gave today were priceless.  When four members of Team Connection, including myself, walked into the classroom earlier this morning, the children all looked confused.  Their faces said it all: “Who are these strange looking people in red?”  When the teacher said, “Friends, we have more friends to welcome today,” the children looked even more confused. 

The four of us were outnumbered greatly and were missing our team leader: the only member who actually worked for Jumpstart last year, the only member who had the slightest clue of what to do.  Yes, we all went through hours upon hours of training, but there exists a strong difference between what is taught in training and what is actually experienced in the classroom.  From the moment we stepped off the Metro and into the street to the moment we walked into the classroom, all I felt was butterflies.  But the instant we walked through that doorway and into the classroom, the butterflies flew away; I felt that this was the moment I have been waiting for: the moment to finally make a difference.

Standing before the thirty-some students were four new adults whom they’ve never seen before.  They were intimidated.  They were shy.  We did not get the warm “JUMPSTART” welcome.  What we got though, was a group of intrigued children.  After the shyness faded away, the students were as rowdy as promised.  The children all huddled around the four of us as their teacher attempted to read Oonga Boonga. 

“Your shoes are tight!”

“You have glasses!” “Why do you have glasses?”

“You have short hair!”

“You’re white! I’ve never seen a white person before!”

Questions and statements were coming from all directions as the children tried to find out more about us.  “Are you going out on the playground with us,” the children asked as they finished the book.  The children looked sad when we told them we have to go back to our school, but at the same time, they looked excited to see us again.  We will definitely be welcomed with “JUMPSTART!!!!” next time.

-Chris Meehan

Team Connection

Corps member