As an African American, I thought I had seen it all. I thought that I had understood my culture, that I knew all about my ethnicity and my people that I needed to know. No. More like how could I have been so dumb to think that. These past three weeks have been mind blowing and I don’t know where to start. I honestly feel like I am part of some movie that is in progress of being made. I have built relationships with so many of the youth, many of whom I have previously known, and also with the other 8 interns. The bond that has been built in this small amount of time is really something special. I can only describe it with one word… love. It takes love to want to spend time and money to take a three dozen kids camping in North Carolina. It takes love to pick up the somewhat troublesome kid to tutoring. It take love to help numerous children several reading levels behind to become better readers. It takes love to sacrifice your own money making motives to be an example of a Christian to a community with few positive role models. I have always had a mentoring spirit, whether it was with my younger cousins or if it was in elementary school being a peer mediator. I have been blessed with an opportunity to show this young black generation that you can be an individual. It’s hard for me to see how much influence I have on these kids, especially the boys because I see myself in them so much. I see the same situations and the same mistakes I avoided when I was a few years younger by the grace of God. I am just thankful I can have a Godly influence on them because they still have a great influence on me that attending University of Richmond cannot provide. Even the interns have blown me away with their compassion and dedication. My birthday was June 16th on a Monday where tutoring takes place. All the interns surprised me by showing up to a restaurant to celebrate and even split my bill! I was really humbled that anyone would even think of me enough to do that. Big ups to the Justice League!! I’m hoping that the rest of this experience will be just as life changing as it has been so far. Until next time, peace and God bless… oUt.
Shad
