After spending half of my Summer doing nothing in Virginia, I decided to come home until school starts again. I recently was blessed with the opportunity to get a job as a recreation counselor working with kids ages 3-6. I am currentlly going into my Fourth Day and I'm already dead tired. These kids are ACTIVE! As I've interacted with each kid everyday I've made a shocking realization that registered all through the depths of my Soul. These little, innocent people are the future of this generation we live in today, especially in the City I live in. This was so powerful to me because the City I live in is known for Gang and criminal activity, pregnant teenagers, high school dropouts, Drug addicts, robbers etc. But these children are so well mannered, softspoken, innocent and intelligent. Now I'm not an emotional person at all, but it really warms my heart to see that these are the future Doctors and Lawyers, Athletes and actors to come. But the sad truth is, some of these innocent children may fall victim to the stereotypes I mentioned....That's a harsh reality to face and it would really hurt to see any of these children not succeed in anything in life. They've also made me recollect on my childhood... It made me think of how I was a child growing up always fightng and running crazy...To growing into the young man that I am now...That's why no matter where I am, I get so much respect from so many old heads for choosing the path to do the right thing...When I look at some of these kids I see myself as a child in so many ways. For example, when I see the little boy who sits alone or is often neglected, I think of how I was ostracized as a child by my peers; or when I see the little boy who doesn't have the best snacks, I think of how I didn't have the same snacks the other kids had; Or how I was always looked at as an unattracitve, rough child that was headed down the wrong path.
So one would wonder, how do you respond to these things at this age when you see kids going through what you went through. It's simple, I ask God to help me, help them find comfort in their insecurites or areas of lack. Overall, When I see these young people I see that there are still some good young parents out there who care about the well being of their child and want them to be successful.
The pressures of many inner city and Urban neighborhoods are harsh, but If I can make it, I know they can! I'm only 20 years old, but I've never been so eager to want to change my environment and the people around me, I hope all you readers have some small desire to be eager enough to take the same inititaive in extending a helping hand to the youth in your community, in some form or fashon... But enough about me...Based on your interactions with younger siblings/family members or kids in your neighborhood, what do you see in the future of the youth you've encountered?
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