Today at Camden Children's Garden, I worked with the most amazing teenager. His name is Isiah. He's 16 gets good grades, runs his own landscaping business, plays basketball and works two jobs. He's on his way to Villanova University on a full-ride scholarship. This kid could really talk. He told me all about his travel team and the different places he's been in the country. He told me about how learning new languages is so interesting to him, because "you never know who you'll run into." He kept talking about AmeriCorps and how he wants to join, because he loves doing community service and volunteering. I just couldn't believe that a kid that came out of that neighborhood had so many accomplishments under his belt already. I didn't ask about his home life, but living in Camden can't be such a great thing. I told him that the great thing about AmeriCorps is that I get to travel the country and meet people who inspire me to be a better person. He's definitely one of those people.
It's really important for me to remind myself why I'm still doing this program, because the days can be really strenuous and coming home to a house of 10 people who clash is not exactly ideal. When I meet people like Isiah it reinforces my purpose for being here.
Needless to say today was a good day, I even got to go running!
