Miami Adventures: College Day

It's over, but it was great! After hours of labor, anxiety, and preparation, we did it! Today's "predictable unpredictable" included an half-hour-late bus, a severely sprained ankle, and lost groups. We took 70 kids to the college campus and set them free with a map to explore, learn, and get free t-shirts unexpectedly signed by several football players passing by. Despite the 92*F weather, the tardiness, and the kids getting lost and confused, all in all, they enjoyed it. I saw more genuine smiles today than I've seen at Breakthrough.

An energetic morning took us to the bus then to UM; we disembarked and I was responsible for the pep-talk and distributing important papers to all the chaperones and station masters at the posts. In the first 20 minutes, John (my co-coordinator) and I fielded at least 20 calls each from lost, confused, or mis-guided teachers. "Where is the Wellness Center?" to "When should I expect my first group?" to "The computer activity in the library won't work, what should I do?". We handled all of them - I thrive on spur-of-the moment stress and problem-solving. I can tell already that in a month of teaching I've become so much more adaptable and quick on my feet -- and I like it!

I took Frappaccino orders for the Chaperones, became the photographer of the event, and iced a nearly-broken ankle. She'll be okay; she's tough.

Here are some pictures because I really do love my kids. I started out wanting to teach for myself; wanting to discover things about myself, and grow in my own way. Perhaps selfish, but those were part of my motivations... Now, I know I can make a difference - maybe not life-long, but certainly a difference -- for these students and that's invigorating!

Emily, chaperoning her kids.

Students putting together their puzzle; when they completed each site, they got a puzzle piece. At the end of the scavenger hunt, they created the puzzle.