Stereotypes Broken

I, like many students, was apprehensive (to say the least) to begin my service with County Community School. After the training, I was nervous to see what the students would actually be like and how they would react to me being there. My first time going to CCS, I was very uncomfortable. The students looked at me like I was an outsider, and I could feel that they knew I didn't belong. As I walked down the hall towards room 9, I could feel the eyes of every student on me--judging me, hoping I wouldn't judge them, wondering what I was doing there, knowing I didn't belong. The hall seemed to go on forever, but I finally made it to room 9. Each time after that first uncomfortable week, the students seemed to accept that I did belong there and that I wouldn't judge them, and really did want to be a friend.

I tutor for 2 periods in a row, and lunch is right between the two. I've begun to get more comfortable just sitting and talking to the students during lunch. The last time I was there, a boy who is a senior came up to me and asked if I was in college. I told him a little about Dominican, and he told me that he is really looking forward to finishing up his school year and going to college next year. He said that he is interested in being a PO, like the ones that work at CCS. I was so impressed with his ambition and genuine desire to reach his goals.

Even though we have been taught not to stereotype those who we are serving, I will admit that I had done that to all the students at CCS. I saw them as drop-outs who may or may not make it once they're done with high school. Speaking with this one young man changed my mind about that stereotype and gave me a new way to look at the students--young people like I was just a few years ago, with ambition, goals, and a true desire to be successful.