At the elementary school we got to tutor children. I was assigned to a first grade girl named Pearl. The whole time I was helping her with her homework she seemed very reserved and shy. I tried to read to her and make a connection, but she just didn'te seem interested. I was convinced she just didn't like me. I was disappointed and a bit hurt. When we finished her homework I moved on to help another boy and left her with some other tutors. When we all piled together again to move outside to the playground, I noticed one of the other tutors was holding her child's hand. I naturally lookd for Pearl and saw her, but she wasn't looking for me and it just reassured me of our lack of conneciton and brought back my disappointment. I looked away. Less than 10 seconds later I heard my name being spoken out loud and looked down.
There was Pearl with her hand outstretched waiting for me to grab it. That definitely was an experience I felt with my heart. I was so surprised that she had apparently bonded with me enough to want me with her for the next activity.
Sophie DeWaal
While at the Jewish Home for the Aging the senior I spoke with was from Czechoslovakia. She was close to turning 100 yeas old. She was fluent in five languages. I asked her to teach me a phrase in the Czech language. The words she taught me were "very good". She told me without learning - life would be very dull and boring. She kept saying how she wanted to learn Spanish and keep on learning and learning until she dies. This 100 year old lady impressed me with how positive she was.
Meredith Frank
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