"I MISSED YOU SOOO MUCH THIS WEEKEND!"-This was
the warm greeting I received upon walking into St. Matthew's Tuesday morning,
followed by never-ending hugs. Being our third week of the program, the kids
are now officially 'Bridgers', as our site director Mr. Gummerson would say.
Helping the kids make new friends had been our primary goals, and it is
fulfilling to see that this goal has become a reality. Not only are they
sitting with new friends at lunch and playing together at recess, but the kids
also exude a new confidence that had not been as prominent in the past weeks.During our "Lunch Bunch" on Wednesday, I ate with four of the kids. Our topic was stepping out of our comfort zones. When I asked the kids how they felt about the topic, they were all quick to agree that they had most definitely done so during this program. One boy said that coming here alone was a stretch for him. Whether it has been playing Ultimate Frisbee, making paper Mache piggy banks, or advertising their companies in One Hen, the kids have really taken Bridge as an opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and have found that it can be a great adventure!
As I write this blog entry now, a girl approaches me and asks me to help her spell a word. Noticing the computer, she asks, "What are you doing?" I reply, "I'm writing a blog about how great this week has been!" Eyes wide, a big smile lights up her face as she says, "Make sure you talk about our field trip tomorrow, and our piggy banks, and our tie dye, and our-" Laughing I interrupt her, "Whoa there. I promise I'll get it in! Head on back to recess." She quickly gave me a hug and scurried down the hallway.
That alone is the essence of what Peninsula Bridge has meant to me: being so excited and thrilled to learn while having loads of fun. The joy on the children's faces is a reward in itself; the satisfaction I feel for getting to contribute to this program is an added benefit. This week has been totally and completely gratifying, and for the icing on top of the cake we're going to the Tech Museum tomorrow! We COULD NOT be more excited!