Cheyenne Shepherd: Sustained Service Scholars

This winter, I helped children at Booker T. Washington with their homework through the Boys and Girls Club. It was a program that I greatly enjoyed and I wish to continue throughout my college career. Through this experience I learned that how much I really love kids, but also how aggravating they can be when they can’t focus at the task at hand. It was relatively easy though to get the kids in for homework because Sarah, from the Boys and Girls Club, gave them incentives. Whenever they finish their homework, they get a piece of candy and when they come to do their homework for 20 days then they get a pizza party. I also helped with their reading program and that was fun because I helped them become more interested in reading. I helped them sound out words and discover new ones.

The students that came in for homework were a little different than I imagined. Some children had name brands like Uggs and Sperry’s while others didn’t. It reminded me of my high school days when some kids had name brand attire, but others didn’t. I never made the connection that if they didn’t have name brands in high school then they probably didn’t have name brands growing up either. From what I observed, this didn’t affect their academics. Both groups of children had strengths and weaknesses that had no correlation to their social class. Any child in the community can go to the center and be successful.

Volunteering at Booker T. Washington was extremely rewarding and it breaks my heart that my schedule won’t allow me to continue volunteering there regularly this semester. Hopefully if my schedule permits, I will volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club reading program in the summer. This experience has solidified the fact that without these non-profit programs, children would have a more difficult time with their homework and educational experience. Children need programs like homework help and reading to prepare them and help them become more successful in the future.

Sherry Akins: Sustained Service Scholars

I have enjoyed my time spent working with the children at Booker T. Washington Community Center.  There are many moments that have been memorable or enjoyable.  Each child has a very different personality, which has made each visit a unique, and sometimes challenging experience.  Some of the children love reading or being read to, but others are a little less enthusiastic and need some encouragement to get them to participate.  One theme I have noticed among them is a strong need for one on one interaction.  The children often lean on me while they work on their assignments, and want to touch my hands, play with the rings on my fingers, and will physically or verbally bring my attention back to them when I try to divide my attention between two of them.  Some days, they are more interested in learning about me than in working on their homework, but I can ususally draw them back in by reminding them that they can go play games after completing their work.  They really love the community center and staff members!  I am honored to have been a part of the volunteer staff at Booker T. Washington!

Sherry Akins

Akshetha Reddy: Sustained Service Scholars Winter 2016

My experience at Booker T. Washington Community Center this winter has been amazing, I met really great kids who are interested in learning and reading about many things. I think this is a great way to encourage young students into getting in a habit of finishing their school work first and asking for help when they feel the need to. Right after they finish their homework, they get a chance to pick a book they want to read and be rewarded in form of candy for reading. I loved hearing children read stories out loud and asking about what some words mean, this reminded me of a quote by Albert Einstein “The important thing is not to stop questioning” and I felt honored that I could be part of something they learned.

        After meeting some of the kids who are expected to be at a certain level of reading and they were behind the level should have been at their age, I felt that it is our responsibility to teach them and help them get on same level as their peers. Their enthusiasm is what moved me so much and my time volunteering there flies by so fast. Some of the kids who come to center to their homework feel unenthusiastic about the work that was assigned to them at school and struggle finishing it, but having someone next to them to help them understand their homework and motivating them to do their work helps them very much. If this program is continued like this where kids have safe place to study and play after their school, I strongly believe that these children will achieve great education standards.

        I have enjoyed my time at the community center and had great experience. I also learned that privileges are very different, even in schools when the community is different. I love the motive behind this program and had great time sharing my knowledge and being able to make some difference with this opportunity. 

Being a Mentor to the Future Generation: Peter Engelhard

Volunteering at the Booker T Washington Community Center was a great experience for me.  I have loved volunteering at this place because the kids are so fun to be around.  I have made great relationships with some of the kids who come over at the community center.  On the first day volunteering over there, I didn't know what to expected because I have never volunteered over there before.  Volunteering throughout the weeks, I have learned how the process works and what to expect.  There are kids, when they come in and see me, they will remember my name.  This has touched my heart.  I have helped different kids in the subjects of: reading, math, and history.  Helping them brings back memories of when I was a little kid.

Being in this program, I have seen and talked to most of these kids coming from low-income families, which brings back memories of STAYcation of how it was like living in poverty and learning about poverty in Hamilton.  There was a boy who I have a positive relationship with that he told me when grows up, he wants to be a lawyer so he can help his mom.  I told him that he needed to study, read a lot, and to go to law school.  This made me happy for me to hear him say that.  I have learned how I can speak at a kids' level so they an better understand me as I help him/her do their homework.  Helping these kids has shown me that I want to help the future generation to be able to succeed. 

I have worked with great people who helped me succeed throughout the program.  As the program is coming to a close, I have told people I would still volunteer at the Booker T Washington Community Center even after the program is over.  Booker T Washington Community Center is a great non-profit organization to volunteer at if anybody would like to make a difference in the children's lives and to be a mentor to them.  These children who are coming to the community center will be successful in going and getting a good education.  People need to volunteer at the Booker T Washington Community Center because this will impact and change your live as it did to mine.  Volunteering at the community center is one of the things that has turned me into a Hamiltonian!!!!!!