Writing Introductions

This is a quick post. We had a great time on Thursday. Everyone talked a bit more about audience and then worked on introductions. These are still in the preliminary stages of development. Here are some samples:

• Keyala and Karen
• Lonnie
• Madeline
• Sendy
• Vernon

Scared

Every Thursday I walk through the halls of Nautilus Middle School scared. "Will they remember me?" I just don't seem to grasp the idea that the Dreamers actually remember all of us. How they are capable of remembering our faces so clearly, to remember all the little conversations we've had--books, movies, even our family--really surprises me, but more than anything it fills a part of my heart with a warmth found in their smiling faces. To see them brighten up with curiosity... "what will we do next? what are we going to talk about now? Are we going to teach them about Nicaragua?"... it makes me want to be with them everyday, to teach them more and more, to lead them through the right path to success. When I'm with them they bring out the little kid in me and I try to bring the out the college student in them. So every Thursday these kids and I lose ourselves in time and learn from each other once more. How I wish it wouldn't end so soon.

~Thalia Anyosa

Solidarity Work

Last Thursday’s visit to Nautilus Middle school grabbed my attention, why? Because of the solidarity and excitement we were surrounded by. The assignment this week was to help the kids from Nautilus write a letter to the kids of Nicaragua. When Mr. Salinas and Mr. Gonzalez gave the assignment, I felt very unsure and hesitant; the kids didn’t seem to want to cooperate or do anything at all, maybe because they were wondering how the kids from Nicaragua would understand their writing if is in another language. But then the professors informed everyone that it will be us, the college students, who will do the translating. That’s when the whole environment and sensation in the room changed. The college students started to move around the place and went to help each student individually; the kids were now not only writing but also drawing in order to make their letters look better; also they were making comments, asking questions and forming ideas of what to write, in other words everyone was getting involved. At that moment I felt really excited and anxious. My hesitation was completely gone; within seconds of this change I found myself working with my kid and helping him develop ideas.

Luckily for me I avoided the translating stress because my kid, Christopher, knew how to speak, read, and best of all, write in Spanish. I’m just starting to know him and so far this kid is awesome. He is very independent and hyper active, in a good way. He’s always asking questions and making comments just to get attention from me and my classmates. I think I’m starting to form a bond; hopefully it will grow bigger with time. Overall this past visit to Nautilus went great, and so far it’s been the day that I’ve enjoy the most. It was strange, but the fact that could actually see and feel how everyone was doing the effort of making the assignment look interesting and fun, really gets into you and also works. At the end making the goal of making another group of kids happy and excited was reached.

~Giordano Sanchez

Everything Was Fine

It was around 3:30 pm when I got to Nautilus Middle School. I was feeling a little nervous; I really didn’t know where to go in by. I finally got out of my car and just went in through the nearest entrance. I went right in and I asked the security if I needed to check in. He opened this red folder and so I signed in. He then directed me to another office, and said I needed to speak to a lady called Luz. Luz was very welcoming and nice; I turned in my volunteer paper, my ID, and my volunteer number. Everything was fine and I was cleared; I was ready to go and meet the kids.

At around 3:40 pm the bell rang. Luz and I started walking to the class where the kids where going to be. When we got there, the kids where still not there. I was so nervous I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard from previous mentors that they were nice and sweet kids, but still I was nervous. The eventually started arriving; Luz was giving them a cookie with a juice. They all looked so innocent and loving.

After that I found out they are writing a book for the children in Nicaragua, so they had to pick topics to write about. So we broke up into groups. I got a group full of girls and one boy. Emily and I were in charge. At the beginning they were a little rowdy, but then they got it together and it went smooth. There were two little girls Malaya and Estrella that caught my attention they are super smart. I really loved it, and I can’t wait to do back on Thursday.

~Marilyn Fernandez

From One Generation to Another

This is my second time experiencing the I Have a Dream program at Nautilus Middle School. I had my doubts today whether I would continue visiting the school. I had not thought of the effects my presence with the kids would have, however. Today at the school, I realized how knowledge and experience can be shared from one generation to another. Working with our group today, I had the experience of understanding why it is important to be there for the Dreamers.

Kids were asked to formulate questions based on the Nicaragua project. From the same questions they brought up, my ears and mind opened up widely. I could have never imagined these youngsters having such brilliant ideas to help those in need. I find it astonishing how they asked and listened to our feedback. It feels s great to know that children at Nautilus Middle School await our arrival. I feel committed to guide them and help them become better people in life.

~Carlos Hernandez

A Good Feeling

As we grow up, we face changes that help us understand why are we alive and what are we doing with our lives. Today, I visited Nautilus Middle School with some of my college mates and professors. Going there to help the I Have a Dream program was such a good feeling, because if there is something that I love personally, it is to make people happy, and I can say that those kids, the Dreamers, enjoyed the day a little bit more than usual. I am a current student at Miami Dade College and as a student, I have the opportunity to get involved in a variety of organizations, and I think that tutoring the kids is one of the best activities I could do, simply because we, as a team, can put a smile in the kids’ faces.

Our goal is to encourage the kids to go to college and graduate. The program has been helping them since they were in first grade, and now we can see how much they have grown and learned not only from school but from each other too. Kids use to copy and do what they see in others. Being part of this beautiful team is showing me the great impact and influence we have in their lives. They have so much potential; they are so energetic and full of life and I think we really enjoy being together. As I said before, we will always have changes, and I hope them to smile every time they remember these beautiful moments.

~Betsabe Nalbandian

Medicine for a Frown

I felt inner peace at Nautilus today. My whole entire day was going downhill. It began because of an unexpected bad grade I received on a math test. Because of my fear, I changed into a completely different person and my permanent smile suddenly seemed to vanish leaving only a frown behind. Classmates approached me with the same question, “What’s wrong?” My emotions surely must have come through my facial expressions and attitude. Mentally, the test was controlling my head and heart. But this did not stop me from allowing myself to go and visit the dreamers at Nautilus.

It was like a breath of fresh air as we began to interact with the dreamers. As we discussed the many ideas and questions which could go into the project for the children in Nicaragua, I noticed that there are greater problems around the world. We are fortunate to have so many opportunities in the United States. By taking advantage of these great opportunities and sharing the outcomes with people who are less fortunate, we are making our world a better place.

The “ I have a dream program” really absorbed me this Thursday afternoon because it was like a natural medicine for my unhappiness. The most magical aspect of this program is that it allowed for three different age groups to interact (the children, the college students, and the professors and directors). The discussion suddenly became more dynamic, creative, and genuine.

~Stephanie Aya

New Relationships

Today was a thrilling experience as I was able to meet a few new Dreamers and interact with the ones from last week in an unbelievable way. These Dreamers have a great potential to be successful and achieve any goal they put their mind to. The Nicaragua video had an incredible impact on the Dreamers as they asked good questions about how we could help people over there. I thought the video was a great way to show the Dreamers how bad the economy is in Nicaragua and that by writing a book they can help educate young kids. In addition, I believe the Dreamers are going to be able to write an awesome book for the kids in Nicaragua because they seem interested.

Furthermore, today impacted me in a positive way. I felt so comfortable talking and interacting with the Dreamers. As a result, today I felt as if I knew these young kids forever, but it was only the second time I have been with them. It is amazing how you can create such a close bond with these Dreamers and take them in as if they were your own. I cannot wait till next Thursday when I am able to see them again because it is surely an outstanding experience to be a role model for these young kids. My goal for this project is to make an impact and create a close relationship with at least one of the Dreamers.

~Michael Valdes

Crashing Fists

Thursday, September 24, was a special day in Nautilus Middle School. The first time I stepped into the school I was nervous. I didn’t know anybody, not even any of the college students. Soon, however, I met a few new people, and later in the period, during the interviews, I met a lot of kids. There was one child in specific that was sitting down all alone. I walked toward him, and he smiled. I asked for his name and he told me it was Christian. We started talking about our likes and dislikes. Every time we had something in common, we would crash our fists together. When it was time for us to talk about what we wanted to write about in the books being sent to Nicaragua, I was looking for someone to work with. Christian found me and started telling me what his ideas were for the book. Christian is a very intelligent little dude. He was coming up with interesting topics such as mixed culture in the U.S and the architecture around us.

But at the end of the day, what really made our time together special, was when I said bye; he was ready to crash fists once again

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When he asked me if I was coming next Thursday, he really surprised me and made my day. I can’t explain it but just hearing him tell me "Are you coming next Thursday?" made me feel good. It made me think that I can be a big brother to someone.

This first day had a special impact on me not because of the extra credit, or the Presidential Award but for providing the satisfaction of knowing that someone is looking up to me. I loved our first Thursday at Nautilus. I told everybody about my experience, even my girlfriend. I can’t wait for another Thursday like the one that just passed.

~Edward Morales