Last Friday, I wrapped up my first
semester of college. After taking the last of my finals and returning all my
rentals, I quickly packed my bags and headed home. And I have to say, since
being home in suburban Virginia, life has been very relaxing. I wake up when I want, watch TV non-stop and go out
for jogs at my own convenience. One would think that this is the true essence
of “relaxation”, but I have to be honest
with you: I’m only six days in but, already, I’m tired of relaxing.
It used to
be that on every Monday and Thursday morning I would wake up at 7:00 am to the
sound of my iPhone’s Marimba ringtone, reminding me that today I had Jumpstart
obligations. Quickly then, I would scurry out of bed, take a five-minute
shower, brush my hair, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and reread the day’s
Session Plan. By 8:10 I would be ready to go, looking at myself one last time
in the vanity mirror with my red Jumpstart shirt on, and grinning from ear to
ear. After heaving my backpack full of prepped materials over one shoulder (as
Santa would do with his bag of goodies) I would step out of my room, quietly
shutting the door behind me so as not to disturb my roommate who miraculously
manages to sleep through the entire circus. (I guess she must have gotten used
to it).
But that
was then, back in September, October, November. Now, it’s the middle of
December. And although the holidays are just around the corner, I can’t help
but feel a little unenthused. These days, I find myself bored out of my mind.
I’ve come to realize the Jumpstart really made me feel like I was doing
something productive, and that I was really making a difference.
My absolute favorite part about
being a Corps Member is when we first walk into the classroom with towers of
prepped materials for the kids to play with. Once we cross the door’s threshold
you instantly feel a wave of energy, of excitement, of familiarity. You can hear
small voices whisper under their breaths,
“Hey look, it’s Jumpstart!”
“Jumpstart’s here!”
“Yay Jumpstart!”
It makes me
feel so good to see them again. I love how eager they are to play the alphabet
matching game with me or sit next to me when we sing “Down by the Bay” during
Circle Time. I feel needed in the classroom. Really, I do.
It’s a
shame the semester ended so quickly. I’m already starting to reference those
Jumpstart days as if they were ancient history. I guess I’ll just have to start
sing Christmas carols on loop until the time comes when I can sing in unison
with my little preschoolers again.
“It’s the most
wonderful time of the year…”
~Leila Nasser
Corps member
Team Joy
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