journal entry 2

Working with the students at the boys and girls club has been a eye opening experience for me. Previous to working up at the school, I have always felt that I didn't get along with younger kids age 3-12. Now that I have help tutor 4th and 5th graders, my level of appreciation for the younger generation has grown tremendously. I have come to realize that with a little guidance, young boys and girls do process the proper skills to educate themselves on a daily basis. At first, I was extremly frustrated at the level of concentration these students held, but with a little reassurance, most of the pupils I taught realized that hard work and dedication to studies can go a long way in this world. The last session I had at the school I tutored a young boy named Brian. We chated about sports and particular soccer, but he then went on to ask me a question about ancestory. He asked me if the Native Americans were still around today. Me being a history major, I wanted to explain to him the long history of invasion and exploitation at the hands of the European settlers. However, realizing that he was to young to comprehend the confrontational history of Native Americans in this country, I simply explained to him that Native Americans have been here long before any white man(anglo-saxon) set foot on American soil. We talked some more about the history of Native Americans, and in doing so, I realized that I was enjoying educating this 12 year old on the history of this country. I guess in a way the students at the boys and girls club were slowly growing on me, and as a result, my sevice learning experience was enhancing my ability to interact with the younger generation in a productive manner.