Jean-Carlos, Justin, me, Daniel, Cesar and Victor
To honor today's Martin Luther King Day, our school Sanford is participating in community service. Separated by our advisor-groups we were helping in all different kind of operations, as for example the food bank or the animal shelter. So our project was to work with Hispanic children. We were setting up a parcour with ten stations, which provided fun things to do for the kids, as in example soccer, basketball, puzzle corner and so on. I was a group leader and led my little group around.
After a rather short night, I remember in the morning saying to my hostmum "nah, all the other AFS'ers are sleeping in on their day of now". I wasn't all too excited. Until the little kids entered the building. They were full excitement. Of course I got assigned to five little boys. After three stations, Daniel came up to me, smiled at me and said: "I wish you were my sister." Also Victor was very impressed and had a great day, as he said: "I want to come everyday, and I want to be in your group again."
It's incredible how fast we bonded with these kids. It took us six hours of our year, which we otherwise most likely would have spent in front of the TV, and four hours in their year, which they probably would have spended the same way. But this day will be in their memories for so much longer. It didn't need much. The smiles in their faces and the happiness in the gym, reminded me how important it is to take care of each other. Martin Luther King Day gives us the opportunity to give something back. Back to the community. It gives us the opprtunity to share our happiness and our joy, who others shared with us throughout the year.
The fact that Sanford participates in Community Service makes me proud. There are more important things in the world than good grades, there is more than the aspect of studying. Sanford teaches us how to become a member of society.And how to be a part of a community.
Thank you
