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I chose to serve a year with �鶹��Ƶ Greater Boston because I wanted to embody and practice the values that are very important to me, specifically, the values of education, advocacy, and joy. ��

During my senior year of college, I was debating what my next steps would be. I knew I wanted to do something meaningful and important to me but wasn’t quite sure what that looked like. I’ve always been passionate about education but was not ready to commit to being a teacher or going to graduate school right out of college. I had a friend who did �鶹��Ƶ a couple years earlier and she mentioned it was a great way to spend a year while finalizing next steps, and got her started with a career in education. During my interviews, I learned more about �鶹��Ƶ’s mission and knew this was a great next step for me.

At the forefront of my decision and commitment to serve with �鶹��Ƶ was the joy of working with young people. I have worked with young people in many capacities such as day camps and tutoring and have always found that time so influential. Specifically with the age group of my current class, 3rd and 4th graders, I notice how amazing their imagination is, how strong their curiosity is, and how insightful their intuition is. At the core of my decision to serve at �鶹��Ƶ is joy. I value the joyful times with students-the laughs, the energy-because that gives me the motivation to keep serving every day. Obviously, there are times where the school day is not as happy and often times my students and I are working through challenging problems, but we make sure to always spend time having fun as well. The students in my classroom, and other students at the school that I have gotten to know, are such amazing people and I am so glad to be in their presence every day. I had hoped this would be the case due to my past experiences working with young people, and it has truly exceeded my expectations. ��

Another key value that called me to �鶹��Ƶ was embodying the principles of social justice that I care deeply about. Through my college curriculum, and lived experiences, I have spent a lot of time studying and being involved in varying social justice movements. There are so many ways to get involved in supporting various communities and working toward a more just world, and I saw �鶹��Ƶ as an opportunity to do that through education and spending time with our school community. ��

I knew I specifically wanted to be a Student Success Coach at �鶹��Ƶ because education and access to education is a cause close to my heart. I am so grateful for my previous and future education as I have absolutely loved learning and school at all points in my life, and I know that is a rare opinion. I remember being so excited before the first day of school because I would get to meet my new teachers and classmates. The main reason I loved learning was because I had people in my corner teaching and supporting me. I know that whatever career I end up in, I want to be a mentor to all young people I interact with. I still remember advice and academic tools from my teachers, Kindergarten through senior year of college. My 3rd and 4th grade math teachers had a song for every unit we learned, and I find myself singing the same perimeter song I learned to my students this year. ��

I have always believed in the importance of mentorship.

My teachers and supporters were the people who allowed me to believe in myself and be confident in who I was. I came into this year hoping to��do the same for my students. As we approach the end of the school year, I see my students using math strategies I’ve helped them with throughout the year on their own. I see them independently navigating social interactions, where I once was a more constant presence in mediating friendship conflicts or helping with emotion regulation. As I get ready to transition out of this role, it is so special to know that students will be taking the practices we learned with them into 4th grade, 5th grade, and beyond.��

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I serve with �鶹��Ƶ because I believe in the power of young people and want to support them in receiving the excellent education that they deserve. My values drew me to service at �鶹��Ƶ Greater Boston, and I am so glad they did. I look forward to closing out the year strong and bringing what I’ve learned with me as I pursue my master’s in social work this fall. ��

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