I now have roughly two months before I depart for Puerto Rico and if I wasn't busy enough chasing children, packing, selling last minute items, trying to find a car in PR, and trying to raise money for this new adventure...I've also embarked on a few new opportunities all in the name of service (also known as "do gooderness")!! Its pretty interesting how these opportunities came about and how they somehow all have to do with the same thing...teaching and language.
Here's the deal, the church that I go to has an e-mail list where members can send out information on pretty much anything. We receive e-mails about everything from job openings to fish fries...yes, I said it, fish fries. I even advertised my Yard Sale on there (and made a few sales thank you very much)! So, one day I got one such e-mail...no, not about a fish fry...about a job opportunity. I believe they were asking for a part time teaching assistant for an ESL (English as a Second Language) class. I thought "Perfect! It's part time, I'll get a little more pocket money to hold me over these next few months and I can help kids do the opposite of what I'm about to do!" Then I realized I had to send my resume over in order to even be considered for the job, and well, I have nothing but media experience on it. I knew I'd be perfect for the job but my resume just wouldn't reflect that. There had to be a way to qualify for this job, after all, it was for me right?! Then, I got a brilliant idea! My mom works for a high school! Maybe I could use her or her principal as a reference and maybe at least that will be the credential that would crack that door open for me to step right through.
So, I call my mom up and bring her up to speed on my dilemma and in pure mom fashion she says "That sounds great Misha and I'm sure you can use us as a reference but I'm sure we can also really use your help here as well." That, ladies and gentleman, is my mom. This brain was handed to my mom from God before it was passed on to me so, that woman knows how to move things from one level to the next...all in the name of improvement for all. I thought about it for a millisecond and agreed. All I could do was think to myself "God is doing something here, alright, I'll bite." By the next week I was sitting in her principal's office with butterflies in my belly. There is something about a principal's office that is just...I don't know you just feel like you're in trouble...like any minute now he's going to pull your 'Life File' and BOOM! your in detention for life or something. This principal, I might add, is no joke. His presence is so principal-ish (I know its not a real word, just don't tell him I wrote that ok?). I sat in his office, (with my mother standing about two feet behind me) shook his hand, and spoke in my most sweet-as-pie voice. Here is what happened:
Me: "Hello sir, how are you?"
Prinicipal: "Hi, I'm fine, give me a second." He then responds to an e-mail, calls his secretary in, holds a quick conversation with her and interrupts that conversation to say to me. "You can sit."
I sit.
Principal: Hangs up the phone and tells his secretary to sit down somewhere behind my mother (yes, now I have an audience). "Okay young lady, what do you want from me?"
Me: (Caught ridiculously off guard) "Uh well, I..." (searching for words...come on Michelle make your Momma proud and snap out of it) "Well sir, its like this. I am moving to Puerto Rico in December for personal reasons. In the interim, I am looking to offer service in an effort to give back to my community. My career thus far has been in media. I recognize that I am who I am today as a result of wonderful mentors, programs and opportunities that were offered to me as a youth. While I recognize that fact, I also realize that I have not done much to give back and its bothering me. Its time to change that, so I guess I'm here to ask you, what do you want from me?" (I can feel my mom beaming behind me.) Phew! Where did that come from?!
Principal: (Looking unimpressed) "Well, there is only but so much you can do with the kids being that you are not staff and that you are leaving in just two short months. But, I do believe there is a place for you here because there is a need. Let me think about this." He stares at me pressing his palms together and bringing his fingers up to his lips. This is awkward. After what felt like 5 really long silent minutes...
Principal: "I got it. You are going to work with our Parent Coordinator. We desperately need parental involvement in this school. So, I need you to brainstorm and come up with new and refreshing ideas for how to get these parents more involved in this school, and more importantly in their child's education. Do you think you can do that?"
Me: "Yes. Sounds good."
Principal: "Alright then, good luck." He shakes my hand, moves onto his next order of business and tells my mom as soon as I leave. "You've got a great daughter there."
So now, once a week I report to my mother's school and I work with the Parent Coordinator. This woman is just one person trying to work on the behalf of all the parents who come into the school. She is also trying to successfully reach those who are just not involved, dealing with parents who have no control of their children, handling children who seem to be the parents of their households, social workers, and a parent's association that is consistently changing. I am happy to help but I must admit, at times I'm overwhelmed. I look at these kids and I see everything from extreme promise, future college grads and functioning members of society to lost souls who are just passing time in the halls until their either incarcerated or killed. Those kids are the ones that break my heart and infuriate me the most. How is it that all you can see is your block? How do you not want more?! Why are you showing off stab wounds as badges of honor?!?! Why is your mother sitting there and not saying anything while you do this?! I just want to shake you and smack you into reality!!!! That's usually the time I take a walk and make a note to pray for them...all of them.
Its been a few weeks and I still haven't heard back from that job that I just knew was mine....yeah, not so much! But, I did received another e-mail from my church! This one was a posting for ESL Volunteers. On Monday nights, a local community center offers free English reading, writing and comprehension tutoring to all. Folks can just walk in! First, they take a simple exam to assess their need. Then, they are paired with a tutor. Finally, after paying $10 for a workbook, we start working! Tutors are desperately needed so there was really no way I could say no. It was like an intro for the job I was going for. So, I not only got myself over there but I dragged my little brother (is 18 still considered little?) and my little cousin (is 20 still considered little?) with me.
At the center, I met Patrick. Patrick is my first student and he is from West Africa! French is his primary language but he speaks, reads and definitely comprehends English pretty well. He's having trouble with the "th" sound but really doesn't realize just how well he's doing overall. This week, I found out that he works at a local grocery store in the customer service department, and he's hoping to transfer his college credits here so that he may continue his major in Environmental Studies. He'd like to go back to West Africa as a consultant but he really doesn't mind moving somewhere else. He also doesn't like the mirror. I only pressed a little bit on that last one and assured him there was no reason to avoid the mirror, he looks great (he really does and I can't help but wonder what the mirror thing is all about). Robert (lil bro) met an Ethiopian acrobat who works for the circus! Nicole (lil cuz) met another man from West Africa who has only been here a month and has never taken an English class but speaks very well. What's his secret? Television. He is also now teaching HER French!
Who knew leaving my cubicle would manifest into all of this?! Well folks...the adventure continues...till next time! ;)
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