Like night and day

There are times when it is quiet in Room 217B. Students and mentors are in classes, the school is calm, and there are no disruptions. Moments like these are good opportunities to check e-mail, read a journal article, catch up on education news, or have some lunch.

Then we have lunch and after school. Like this afternoon, for instance. I spent it splitting my attention among at least half a dozen students while doing a dozen different things: editing an essay, giving suggestions on filling out a college application, reviewing a thesis statement, spelling words, giving out trip permission slips, distributing reminder notices, demonstrating the public library's Web site, explaining how to double-space, making introductions, admiring student artwork, etc. I did not stop the entire time. Mary and Steve and Amanda were all similarly occupied.

17 students signed in after school today. Lunch is even busier.

We are growing, and learning. Lately, we are learning how to balance increasing numbers of student requests with helping every student with whatever they need. We also strive to build relationships with new students while deepening our relationships with the ones we know best. It is hard to believe that only a few years ago, we were just a tiny volunteer program that spent several hours a week at the school. What will we be like in a few years' time?