Project MARS/AmeriCorps collects “Great Stories” from its members in which they reflect on their experiences mentoring in the classroom and the progress they see in students. This month’s story was written by Dejah Gallagher, pictured.
Before I started a service term with Project MARS, I’d had lots of experience working with younger children. Mentoring, and academically supporting middle schoolers made me a little nervous.
After Hurricane Helene, it was expected that students would show up with a variety of responses and behaviors. One day a teacher stopped me during lunch and asked if I had time to take a student on a walk. I didn’t know this student and of course she didn’t know me, but I was open to supporting her.
The student, in sixth grade, was feeling very emotional about something that happened at recess. We walked outside, and I found a space for her to feel all the emotions. Once she calmed down, she expressed that she had lost something at recess – “like a small fidget toy,” she said.
“Oh,” I said. Someone had come up to me after recess and said they found this little black toy. I had no idea what it was, so I let him keep it. Luckily, I had a small, squishy fidget toy in my bag, for her to have until I could locate the other student.
The fidget toy was given back. This may seem like a small gesture of attention, but it was big for me. It helped me feel sure about serving an age group I first felt uncomfortable with.
That interaction also reminded me that showing up is just enough! Even on the hard days when you feel unsure, just show up and you’ll be reminded why you were given the opportunity to serve.
