Welcome back to my last week of working with the CUCE-NYC CHAT Initiative! This Monday, we had our final debrief with the SYEP teen teachers and a closing celebration back at PAL Harlem. After the teens took their post-surveys, everyone participated in a Show and Tell activity, where we got to learn more about each other. For instance, Nathaniel expressed his passion for photography and Miriam showed us some notes from the youths she taught when she was still a substitute teacher. Then, we handed out certificates for all the teens to commemorate their accomplishments over the summer. We were so proud of how far they have come since the week of teen training—they have not only learned how to take initiative in leading and facilitating classes, but have also learned how to add their own creativity and flexibility into the lessons (making it theirs) while reflecting on their own healthy and active lifestyles.

After our final celebration, on Tuesday, Miriam and us interns finally returned to the Bronx office to return all the lesson bags and kitchen supplies that were borrowed for the sites. Additionally, we organized the volunteer registration forms, lesson progression records, and pre-post surveys from each PAL site into our shared Box. Since Danielle and Monica had to reschedule their last lesson with PAL Polo Grounds and Pathways to a day after our summer internship ends, Miriam will handle their data and us interns will keep in close touch with her.

Overall, upon close reflection, I would say that my experience at the CHAT Initiative this summer was a success! Despite not having a teen teacher with me at my site, I learned how to act flexibly and closely communicate with the Breukelen site director Yolonde, EBC site director Nathalie, and PAL director Marie to consider our session time, location, and food orders to make sure that the CHAT lessons were properly delivered. I learned how to be an engaging mentor to help the teen teachers grow and be a positive influence for the youths at PAL Breukelen. I am grateful to all the CCE educators, PAL sites, my partner Eda, and most of all, Miriam, for making this experience as meaningful as possible. It felt amazing to see progression in everyone, and I can only see CHAT growing in its future endeavors.