Students at the Center
It’s been an intensely busy culmination season.
In May, we led 11 culminations in just two weeks. We held six more this month.
I was recently brought back to early 2020, when we were leading classes online at the height of Covid, a time of great stress and uncertainty for all of us. I had a profound realization then that my job wasn’t actually to just get through any agenda I wrote. It wasn’t to time manage a perfect 60 minute lesson. My job was to pour love into the kids, who needed an extra dose of care and attention. I pictured myself, in those Zoom classes, filling a bucket with my love and compassion and literally pouring it into the screen to fill up all those boxes in the Zoom room.
During a particularly busy week this month, when I was juggling a big deadline and two culminating classes, bracing myself for long days and sleepless nights that aha moment smacked me in the face. The focus is the KIDS. Always. Everything else that might take up my space and time is secondary.
It was good for me to remember and helped me get through the week with a clear perspective and a focus on love.
This month, I wanted to honor our students by highlighting some of what they created and shared this year.
“I am…
Weird
Bad at spelling
Creative
I am not…
Dumb
Worthless
Pathetic”
--Lincoln Middle School Boys and Girls Club student
“As you can see [my heart] is split in half. Yet both sides are within me. I have half of my heart in a very “creepy” or “scary” art style. Growing up with depression, anxiety, and ADHD, has taken a very big toll on my life. So that one dark side of my heart represents my issues and all my hurt. The other side as you can see is more colorful. It represents my more happy side and my love. My love has been taken for granted multiple times. And I've also had the love I had for someone thrown away, which is why I have “Love Me,” “Please,” “What did I do wrong?” written on it. [My heart] may be tainted but it's still open. Which is why I always try to stay happy and loving. And colorful as most recognize. This is me. This is my heart.”
--USC Hybrid High School student
“That I will love you and look after you
I use my healing by crying myself to sleep sometimes
I would be an eagle and fly away”
--Homeboy Art Academy student
“What if I told you I can see through people like a window.
I am stronger than the rock but my name isn’t Dwayne.
I am the type to move how you move but take all the blame.
I am the type to daydream and hope things never change.
I am known to bottle emotions, I know it’s not the best.
I am the type to leave things on my chest like I failed a bench press.
I am the type to use fire and nature to relieve stress.
I am going to make sure my kids’ kids are good.
It’s time for me to take the throne.”
--Highland Park Continuation High School student
“Things I shared and did I would never do if I wasn't in this class. Also…it's good to try new things and speak your truth.”--probation student
“I learned how to be brave.”--John Adams Middle School Boys and Girls Club student
