Laurel Hill School, Room 4

So, I have been at Laurel Hill for 5 days so far and I have three left. I have been working in Room 4, a 5th grade class, with Mrs. Celio and her 22 students. All of the kids are great and have been very welcoming and friendly. So far, I have realized how lucky I am to go to Lincoln and have the caring family and friends that I do have. A lot of these kids come from difficult lifestyles and have little to no support at home. Being able to go to Laurel Hill everyday has been a privilege. Being able to help these kids, whether it be with their art projects, writing, reading, or just to be able to talk to, has been something I want to do more and more everyday. Being at Laurel Hill has also been very frustrating. When I drive home everyday I have a yearn to pack all 22 of the students in my car and give them a safe ride home, but I know I can't intervene with their lives. I want to bring some of them breakfast in the morning or buy each and every one of them their own pack of pencils. I always take my car for granted as something I will always have, I always opt to not eat breakfast when a lot of these kids don't have that choice, and I always have had ample amounts of pencils both in the classroom and at home. The way some of these kids live is unfair, the information these kids know about sex, drinking, and drugs, is insane, and the the way that I can't fix any of it on my own frustrates me. I know that the impression I make on these kids is semi-permanent. Some of them don't remember the name of their teacher last year, but they do remember meeting Margo and how she went to China, or Brie and that her real name was Gabriella and every single sport she played. I don't think I will ever know how big of a change I have made in their lives.