I returned to BJM elementary after having been on winter break. While I expected the kids to not immediately recognize me, I was not expecting them to completely forget who I am. Ms. Sarah and Ms. Stacy were delighted to see me and smiled and said hello. But when I turned to some of the kids they looked terrified that I knew their name. I understand that it has been a long time, and I hope to rebuild the relationship that I had with them.
Additionally, I didn’t realize how calming and soothing it is to be back at BJM. It reaffirmed for me that this place, and going there every week makes me a better person. Purely seeing the children makes me feel a million times better during a stressful time in my life.
I want to plan another project for the kids with Ms. Sarah. The snowflake project was one of the most special moments I have spent at BJM and I hope to rebuild that for the children, but also for myself.
I am also a Service Scholar, and I do agree with you that volunteering at BJM makes me a better person and seeing the children helps me forget stress. I did not get the surprised look from the children for knowing their names, but they were frank with me about using their siblings’ names instead of their names before winter break. The snowflake project sounds exciting! Did you help cut out snowflakes and glue them into a big poster board?
It’s interesting how children seem to forget people so easily! Apparently, there are some psychological theories behind it, makes me feel less bad about responding to a family friend’s “Don’t you remember me?” with a nervous shaking of my head, “no.” I’m sure that the time that you got to spend with them and all that you poured in them will make a lasting impact though, as others may have had on the rest of us!