Instead of reviewing the activities of the final week of Peninsula Bridge, I am compelled to reflect on the entire last 5 weeks. From the first day of staff training, I was immediately struck by the enthusiasm, motivation, and passion of my fellow TAs. Site Director, Brendan Gummerson, set the bar high from the moment we walked in the room. However, what has truly separated Peninsula Bridge from other programs and summer camps I have worked for in the past are the kids themselves.
I have never witnessed such impetus to learn at such a young age. On the first day of class, the students took a pre-test in order to assess their levels in both math and English. I was assisting the English teacher as the 6th graders took their test, when I was shocked to see all the students finish their tests, get up quietly, and without a word from the teacher, find books from around the room, and read silently for the entire rest of the class period. This is something I have never witnessed in my years as a student. Perhaps I've seen this behavior from one or two students per class that I have been in; but to see all 15 kids instinctively do that was quite remarkable and it shows their dedication to learning. From this point on, the Peninsula Bridge students impressed me more and more every day. Teaching is frequently said to be a thankless job and people often tell me "Even if the kids don't appreciate it now, you're doing a good thing." However, these students DO appreciate it and appear to cherish every day that they spend here.
Over the past couple of days, I have been asking students what their favorite part of Peninsula Bridge was. I have yet to hear a single student respond by saying, "Recess." Their excitement and motivation makes every day rewarding and extremely fun. Anyone who has the opportunity to be involved in this program will understand my enthusiasm.
Peninsula Bridge: Thanks for the great summer!