Ben: Compassion. A word lots of people don't know the definition of. The true meaning is getting someone out of the mud when you don't have too. Today we all had seen some sort of compassion. Personally, I saw this when Mr. McCormick had helped me when my patience ran dry. He kept telling me to keep going and to be initiative. That really struck me in a place I cannot really explain. It felt like a candle started blazing inside that I needed to share with others; knowing that I was truly ready to help the kids learn. I really resonated with one of the students, seeing so much of myself in him. He was really off task and talkative, exactly like me. I told him tell me certain things that he heard from the teachers. Each time he told me something I would quiz him later and it really helped him because he was able to fully complete his worksheet without any help from anyone except himself knowing that he retained the information. Later. when we were leaving, he came and gave me a high five and I truly felt like a proud teacher knowing I accomplished something. Later in reflection I was thinking how I was acting before and after the talk from Mr. McCormick thinking about how my perspective changed. I really felt the compassion within teaching and Mr. McCormick's advice to tell me to keep going. I think that we should all take a step back and give ourselves a talk or get a talk from someone, then act with compassion and love towards one another.

Luke: Today was our first school day which opened my eyes and heart to the students. One of the main struggles of the kids is motivation and staying on topic, but if you keep on them, they put in good effort and produce good work. I worked with a group of girls who wanted me to do the work for them, but once I helped them understand the question and encouraged them to answer it by themselves, they gave very good answers. I realized these kids need someone to tell them that they are proud of them and someone to encourage them that they can do the work and think by themselves otherwise they will not grow in their education. I felt that God used me to work with those girls today and showed them that they are capable of doing work on their own. A big problem here is addiction with drugs and alcohol affecting students as young as sixth grade. We talked about compassion in our reflection tonight and trees bearing good fruit and our goal should be to help these kids bear good fruit and break generational curses/trauma. We take education for granted, complaining about assignments or projects, but education opens opportunities for advancement, to go to college, get a job, and start a loving family. Education breaks generational curses not money or service. Education informs and creates a way out. I want to thank my parents because I am truly extremely blessed that I have the opportunity to go to Calvert Hall and receive a good education and a good experience and witness how blessed we are.