Afterschool at Foundation Communities

     I was blessed with an incredible amount of responsibilities this year. A handful of them proved to be unruly. However, I am happy to be part of the Afterschool Program at Foundation Communities. I am a first grade teacher and my students have been nothing more than a positive addition to my life.

     Foundation Communities is a non-profit organization that helps low-economic families and some individuals with affordable housing and developed programs that help gear them into brighter futures by enhancing their life skills. The organization serves as a motivational mediator for these families to achieve higher financial and educational success. It is an amazing program that continues to expand its impact on parts of North Texas and the Austin community.

     I am thankful that this program exists and that I am part of it. As I have mentioned before, I come from humble backgrounds. I know what it is to receive aid from programs like these and the influence they have on youth. Most importantly, I know the young individuals that benefit from it and see them every weekday.

     I have ten amazing students. They make me laugh, cry, get mad, and feel like one day I will be a great mother. Our days are hectic a majority of the time and then very serene on all others. For the most part, I am very proud to say that their behavior has improved this week. Their energy after getting out of school was high and they were not fond of any rules.  

     My students come into the program aware of problems at home or in the community but they do not understand them fully. They sometimes deal with family violence, divorce, neglect, and poverty. They come with different ethnic backgrounds and have language barriers at times. Their culture is a beautiful mix of everything they have learned in school and at home.

     The most immediate goal to complete within their everyday activity is to have fun and learn. Still, my role and hopes as their teacher is that they grow up to be exceptional individuals and active members of society.

     I think I am completing this task adequately. I give it my all and try to go beyond the lesson plans that I create or are handed to me.

     I love these kids and it seems like they love me too. I am sure that they would not be trying to tackle me so that I will not leave them or ask for my autograph otherwise.

     One day, I will ask for their autographs too.