Sunshine on a winter day
Katie Solic
For a more just and humane world
"His mood changes rapidly. He cries if he's been teased, or if he thinks he's been left out of a joke, game, conversation or if someone fails to keep a promise that was made to him. When, on the other hand, he's been surprised by being given something he did not expect, the look of satisfaction that can sweep across his face is like a burst of summer sunshine in the middle of the darkest winter afternoon and it immediately makes one feel ashamed to recognize how little it has cost in time or attentiveness to make this moment possible."
This quote comes from "Ordinary Resurrections," a book by researcher Jonathan Kozol that describes his experiences working with inner-city youths in New York. However, it could just as well have been written about the children of the Charles Martin Youth Center, Eggleston Elementary School or Riley High School — any of the children of the South Bend area. And even though it is written as a personal reflection, I personally know I have had the opportunity to experience that summer sunshine he so warmly refers to and I think many others who tutor will agree that they have as well.
Tutoring at the Charles Martin Youth Center is not always a walk in the park — in fact most days it is a struggle and a challenge, but I have found it to be a worthwhile one. In my two years with the program I have learned a number of lessons about kids, about society and about life. However, the most important thing I have realized is this: for me, it's not about giving but receiving; it's not an unselfish thing I do, but a very selfish one.
I certainly hope that I have been successful in sharing my gifts with the kids — I know that I, as well as everyone at Notre Dame, have a wealth of knowledge that I am fortunate to be able to share. However, the greatest gifts for me have come from the children's end and represent basic human needs such as love and unconditional acceptance. They represent those rays of sunshine that we can only hope will peek through the dark clouds from time to time. I have also learned of the desperate need to reflect on such experiences because they are not useful simply tucked away in the dark corners of our memories. Instead such trials and triumphs can serve to enlighten both the heart and the mind if we are able to more fully comprehend them.
This year, as a Lead Tutor at the Charles Martin site, I have been fortunate enough to work with students from the First Year Composition (FYC) program who are a part of a collaborative partnership between the First Year of Studies, the University Writing Program and the Center for Social Concerns. There are seven sections of FYC that have a community-based learning component. Students go into the community as a part of their course and return to the classroom to discuss and reflect upon their experiences. Their course assists them in making a direct link between their work in the community and the substantive readings and discussions in the classroom. Their readings inform their work in the community and their work is relevant to the material being studied in the classroom. Ultimately, their experiences in and out of the classroom aid in a deeper understanding of both their world and themselves.
I believe we, as a community, have been given the precious chance to experience such knowledge, as well as satisfaction and acceptance, all while providing a very necessary service. I know the children need us but I also know that we need them, because everyone can use a little warm sunshine on a wintry South Bend afternoon once in a while. I'm not promising the sun will come out all the time or even on a regular basis, but I can promise that when it does emerge, it is worth the wait, the time and the energy.
"For a More Just and Humane World" is a bi-weekly column by the CSC in The Observer. Katie Solic is a sophomore psychology major. She has been tutoring, through the Center for Social Concerns' Lead Tutor Program, at the Charles Martin Youth Center for one and a half years, since her first year at Notre Dame.
The views expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, December 7, 2000
