You gotta keep your head up

It’s been a month since I have moved to Philadelphia. A month filled with its ups and downs. I’ve had my good days and my bad days. It’s been hard living in a neighborhood that you don’t feel as though you belong in. A place where I stick out like a sore thumb. People know I don’t belong. I’m a tall blonde well-dressed woman, living in a community filled with people from all over the world. It’s been hard, living in a neighborhood that you feel as though you can’t call home. I am hoping one day to feel more at home than I do now, but who knows when that will happen. I am hoping and praying that things will only get easier. There have been a few times when I just want to give up, pack my things up and head home. But I can’t do that because I am here to change lives, like the title of my blog says I have “one year to change a life”. It isn’t just the people in Kensington lives I am here to change, but it’s also my life I am here to change. I am here to help those around me but I am also here to learn from them. I want to learn more about myself and to grow. And let me tell you, I have learned so much already and I am ready to see what else this year has to offer me. 

I am very blessed to have my roommates and my ministry site there supporting me along this adventure. It hasn’t been easy but I think I have made a lot of progress along the way. I am proud of how far I have come since I first arrived. It’s hard being here on the weekends because I feel as though I shouldn’t go out at night just because it isn’t the safest. This past weekend my Dad was here. He got to see my school and meet some of my students. He got to meet my 8^th grade PE class. I was so proud of my students. At La Salle Academy, when a guest comes to visit a few students must greet that person and say their name and “welcome to La Salle Academy”.  They were all excited to meet my dad and they were so polite and well behaved. I’m glad my dad came to visit. It allowed me to have some time out of Kensington and relax, even though I was still in Philadelphia. The weekends give me something to look forward too. Unlike my neighbors I have the opportunity to get out of Kensington whenever I need too. Next weekend I will be making a trip to DC to see Austin and spend the weekend with him and his family and I couldn’t be more excited. Being able to look forward to something makes things a little easier.  

This past week was my first week teaching. I was so nervous on Monday, but after my first day of classes I was fine. It was a piece of cake! As the week went on the classes got easier. Not only did I teach PE this week but the 3^rd grade teacher was out sick so I had the opportunity to teach 3^rd grade! Something I never thought I would do! La Salle Academy is such a wonderful school and the students who get the opportunity to attend are so blessed. The things these children deal with on a daily basis before they even get to school in the morning are things I couldn’t even imagining doing at their ages. Waking up early and making sure their brothers and sisters homework is done and that they have eaten breakfast and are ready for school. The only time they are allowed to be a child is when they are at school and then sometimes they get in trouble for acting out in class. These kids have to grow up so fast and so soon and it just breaks my heart. I am glad I get to teach them PE because it will give them sometime to be a kid and not get in trouble for it.

My mom shared with me this quote and it has really stuck with me and made me think about what I’m doing and how it takes someone special to be able to do it.

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say “its not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.” Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”

                        -Fred Rogers

I don’t see myself as a hero by any means but I do hope that I am making a difference in some way.

Peace and love

Katie