Tis the season

With the month of December coming to a close and winter break rapidly approaching, I am finally happy to say I’ve completed my community service hours for the fall 2016 semester. My experience at KIPP was truly fantastic. While I still have a great deal to reflect on, I am so pleased to have witnessed how small acts of kindness can have such a dramatic impact. Throughout this semester, my classmates and I were constantly praised for doing what I consider ‘small acts’. I am now aware that such small acts of kindness are some of the most influential. I would like to thank the KIPP staff for welcoming us into their institution like family. My classmates and I have grown stronger as a unit and we’ve made some wonderful memories in the process. I have every intention of returning to this institution in the spring to offer my services, whether it is required or not.

Total community service hours 32

A trip down memory lane

The month of November at KIPP started off like any other.

My fellow classmate and I were selected for a task that was deemed to be of the utmost importance. We were required to identify and subsequently organize the massive library of books denoted to the 5th graders. While the task seemed of little consequence to me, the perpetual showering of praise by several members of the faculty painted a clear picture of the importance of my role. I estimate that my classmate and I sorted through over 200 books during this past month. Each was labeled appropriately based on reading level, registered, and organized accordingly. However, as I sorted though the books, I couldn’t help but be reminded of my own childhood. Dozens of the books held in my hand brought back vivid memories of my time in my own elementary school. I was even surprised to see a few of my modern favorites such as “Nature”, by Ralph Waldo Emerson and “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius! I truly hope that the students will take advantage of the wonderful stories and invaluable knowledge housed in that library. I am very pound to acknowledge that the small time spent at KIPP could in time have a profound impact on the students in the years to come. To add to this wonderful feeling of accomplishment, my classmate and I were rewarded with a delightful batch of brownies for are troubles this month; they could only be described as a flavorful explosion of succulent variation.

8 hours completed in the month of November

Total of 28 hours completed 

The Great Debate

Upon arrival at KIPP earlier this month, multiple classmates and I were assigned 1 task that was to be completed by the end other month; the files of students had to be updated to their current grade level and then filed appropriately.  As we walked to second floor and into the back office, I found myself shuddering at the site of these sinister columns of files stacked to the celling.  One of the monolithic file stacks was assigned to 2 additional classmates and myself.  Fortunately, this daunting task soon became an exercise in who had mastered their renal block drugs. As the self proclaimed sovereign ruler and subsequent master of drug mnemonics, I offered a challenge to my fellow classmates; for every file that required sorting, the first letter of the students last name must be matched to a drug and its corresponding mechanism/side effect/ drug contraindications

As the month came to a close and the mountain of files became little more then a molehill, our contest finally came to its conclusion. To this day, the winner of our contest is still fervently debated. It is only a matter of time until the alleged results of this contest find its place among the great controversies of our age as Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, and Annunaki genetics have. One thing is for certain though, our knowledge of the topic increased exponentially and was only paralleled by the noted appreciation and gratitude of the KIPP staff.

20hours completed

I came, i saw, i ate

I’m happy to say that my first month of community service was everything I’ve had hoped for. From my first visit At KIPP on September 2, it was obvious that both faculty and students were exceptionally grateful of our presence. While walking though the halls of KIPP, delivering supplies to the teachers, I found it reminiscent of my own elementary school; the joy and curiosity expressed by the students was clearly evident when my fellow classmates and I entered every room. The inquisitive nature of the students, boldly enquiring on anything from our birthplace to our shoe choice genuinely put a smile on my face.

The highlight of the month however came in the form of a pie-eating contest in the “Harvard” classroom. As my classmates and I entered the room, the Harvard students were about to embark on their 2^nd annual pie-eating contest. 4 contestants were chosen based on their scores on previous assignments. While the other students looked on eagerly, I noticed the look on particular students face prior the start of the competition. Instead of talking with the classmates that surrounded him, he eagerly stared at the pie with an intensity that was palpable. To him, this was not a game…It was war. “3, 2, 1, GO!” the teacher yelled and the students took off eating; Instantaneously that student’s colossal focus was converted into raw determination as he simultaneous devoured both the pie and his competition. While this champion engaged with classmates and bathed in his newfound glory, I couldn’t help but be remained of one very important thing; enough passion trumps any obstacle.

12 hours completed