Saturday Dog Walking Will Have to Wait…
My original plan for this month was to spend time with some orphaned puppies…but I didn’t plan well enough (imagine that). I, me, Volunteer Coordinator, of all people, should know that volunteering requires some planning! Anyhow, as a backup plan, I will tell you about my regular volunteer gig – weekly tutoring at Brooklawn Child & Family Services.
For those of you who don’t know, Brooklawn is a residential treatment facility for girls ages 6-11 and boys ages 6-18. Many of the residents of Brooklawn suffer from behavioral and emotional disorders caused by the trauma of abuse or neglect…most times at the hands of someone close to them. For a lot of these kiddos, Brooklawn is only one of many placements they have experienced in their short lives. Moving from placement to placement can also mean moving from school to school. As you can imagine, this is a difficult transition and can take weeks or even months to get acclimated. Many crucial learning opportunities are missed during this transition time and can result in severely low reading and math skills. This is where tutors come in.
Tutors are needed during school in the classrooms and for the after-school tutoring program. I go every Thursday after work and meet with my student, we’ll call him “Malcolm” to respect his privacy. Malcolm is in 5th grade and struggling with both math and reading. Malcolm has trouble concentrating in school and is easily frustrated by his assignments. Many times he will misbehave to get out of doing classwork. Unfortunately, this only puts him further behind. His teacher comments that Malcolm does well with one-on-one assistance, but this is nearly impossible for teachers to give when dealing with a full classroom. So, I visit Brooklawn each week to give Malcolm that attention that he so desperately needs.
The sessions are easy…his teacher created a packet of assignments for us to work on. Now we are writing a Halloween story! He is so proud of his work and wants to share his story with everyone at Brooklawn…I’m trying to get him to wait until we’re finished, but he’s too excited! I have to admit…I’m a bit of a pushover…he’s just so darn cute! But don’t worry, I keep him focused and make sure to complete our lessons each week.
I have to say, this might be the most rewarding experience I have ever had volunteering. I know that I’m making a difference; I see the results week to week. I get to witness his excitement when he spells a word correctly without my help. I hear him say “thank you” each time we’re finished. I feel personally invested in his success and can’t help but be proud when he accomplishes something.
I suppose, however, that I should offer a fair warning. Visiting Brooklawn can be difficult….emotionally. Getting to know these kids and then imaging what they have experienced in their lives is tough. I guess I should also tell you that I spent 3 years working at Brooklawn, so I do know more than the average volunteer. Either way, it can be difficult. Here’s an example…
When I first started tutoring Malcolm, he was excited to see me because he remembered me from working there. On our first visit, he said “what are you doing here, I thought you left?” And I replied that I have a different job now, but I never completely left. He looked confused and said, “huh, most people don’t come back here.” Then when I came back for my second visit, he said “You’re back! I didn’t know you’d come back!” I said, “I told you last week that I would be back.” He said, “yeah, but most times when people say that that they don’t really mean it.” Heart-breaking. I wanted to cry right there, but I held it together, smiled, and we started our lesson.
I can honestly say to you, that Brooklawn has imprinted my heart. I’m not sure that I will ever be able to completely leave that place. If you are looking for a truly fulfilling volunteer opportunity, look no further! If tutoring isn’t your thing…there are many other opportunities to get involved with the children of Brooklawn. For more information, visit their website at www.brooklawn.net or contact their volunteer department at 515-0474.
What a gift you are able to give “Malcolm” and you receive a gift in return.