So I just finished my first day.  I'm eating dinner at 9:00PM.  I haven't looked over my lesson plans for tomorrow yet.  It looks like this is going to be exhausting.  But that's okay.  Just look at the cute kids with whom I get to have this amazing opportunity.  Also look at how six of the kids pictured here aren't looking at me, at how two of them have their faces in their hands.  Yeah, we're going to work on that.  But that's not what I want to talk about now.

 

What's on my mind right now is how weird it is that we were all five years old once.  We all were sitting on that carpet, asking to use the bathroom, subsequently asking for someone to button up our pants because we didn't quite know how yet.  Everyone, across geography, across careers, did that one thing where you're so excited to speak so you blurt it out when all your teacher wants you to do is to raise your hand.  Barack Obama.  J.K. Rowling.  Michael Jordan.  Madonna.  We've been there.  They've been there.  And now I'm there again, walking with these future leaders, authors, entertainers.  And I wonder who they're going to grow to be.  Their parents have some hopes, some dreams, and I'd like to share them with you.  Take a peek.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that's where we're at.  We're a group of sixteen kids and one adult (or at least one bigger kid) (but let's be real, I'm not even that much bigger), teaching, learning, and growing together.  We've got big hopes and dreams.  And while I know that I may be removed in time and space when my kids reach those dreams, become their own Obamas and Rowlings, I also know it's not about me.  I'm the seed planter.  I'm the person who is helping to show them that caring for people is a pretty great thing.  I'm the person who is coaching them through opening ketchup packets.  I'm the person who is telling them that they can and will achieve those dreams before the world gets a chance to tell them otherwise. And that's pretty cool.