Yesterday, I visited the ARC of Essex County and performed for the little guys. I had such a blast. The kids and the teachers were absolutely amazing. This was my fourth time visiting the school and I love seeing these kids every time. After the show all of the kids were walking out and one of the kids was walking out with his own little shopping cart. He was looking anywhere but at me. I blew some bubbles for him but he still wasn't making eye contact with me. Then I remembered something that an occupational therapist taught me to do. I put his hand on my cheek, he looked up from his shopping cart and he looked into my eyes and he saw me. It was so cool to make eye contact with this little guy. It was really magical. It was another little reminder of why I love doing this work.
I am honored that I get the privilege of working with Pre-K, Elementary and Special Needs students in Hartford, CT. I work with students that come from low-income backgrounds. My focus is that the kids have an incredible experience in a safe and fun environment. I want to be a role model for all the kids. I want to use humor and fun as a tool for teaching kindness, a responsibility for others and that education is AMAZING. I want to make sure that the kids walk away remembering the experience. Today I opened my mail and one of the schools I worked with last week mailed me pictures that the kids drew. I am at a loss for words to describe how inventive and creative these kids are. One boy in a neuro-typical pre-k class was messing with my instruments and projector in the beginning of the class. I didn't get upset. I just refocused him and moved him to another part of the room and I was cool about it. He was so taken by the performance and the interactions that by the end of the class he was offering to help carry my instruments and he was so polite to me. That absolutely blew me away. I love when kids are polite and kind. Some of the nicest kids that I have met along my journey have made more of an impression on me than some of the more fascinating adults I've met or learned about. I have to ask myself, "How did they get to be that way? Is it their teachers? Their parents? The community they live in? Who nurtured them to be so wonderful?"
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Turtle! Dance!
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