Looking ahead

Even though we still have two months left in the year, students are already looking ahead. Seniors are thinking about their post-high-school plans, and beginning to stretch their wings outside of the classroom.

This spring, two students chose to do the community-service/fieldwork component of their senior projects at the Welcoming Center. They spruced up their resumes and came down to the Center City office for an interview. Isabelle and I talked to them about their goals and interests. Their senior projects focused on topics related to immigration, including religious tolerance and racism in the United States.

We had to do some creative scheduling to find times that would work, since school ends at 3:04 p.m. and our office usually closes at 5, leaving a short window for volunteering.

Both students took their work seriously. They dressed in professional clothes and paid close attention to the tasks they were asked to perform. One of the projects they did was to help us create a list of other nonprofit organizations that serve immigrants. This will help us in the future when people from places as far away as Virginia call us asking for help.

Other students are also looking toward the future. Two students are especially focused on healthcare careers. One has already had a volunteer job at a hospital. Now she is working with an organization that serves survivors of domestic violence. Another student spoke to me today about finding an opportunity for himself in the fall. He is a junior now but has already decided he is interested in being a nurse.

It is an exciting time to be in the Bridging Cultures classroom. We are all looking toward the future and envisioning the next steps towards our dreams. I am already having "popcorn thoughts" (lots of quick ideas) about more things we can do this summer to get ready for a new year.

Of course, right now there is spring sunshine to enjoy and another two months to go before graduation.