A Day in the Life
Stories from former CalSERVES AmeriCorps members
Marisol Cunnington, CalSERVES
AmeriCorps Leader/VISTA
I sure will miss the kids, they all found their way into my heart and many even taught me a few things. I know now that I always want to be involved in working with kids, even if I’m just volunteering a few hours a week. I’m planning on applying to be a Big Sister when I end my AmeriCorps experience.
My experience has been challenging and rewarding and awesome and difficult and more emotionally involving than anything I’ve ever done. The experience has allowed me to let go of my material cares and do everything I did for the sake of doing it and for the kids. This has been the best year of my adult life thus far.
Vanessa Petersen, CalSERVES
AmeriCorps Mentor
My name is Vanessa Petersen, and I have been a fourth grade mentor at Sheppard’s [CalSERVES] After School program throughout the year. When asked to share how I helped one child this year, I can’t imagine how to answer. There are many kids who I hope I have impacted and who I know have impacted me. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t know any of the kids, but gradually I got to know them as individuals and see their individual strengths. Over the year, they have opened up and shared about their lives’ hardships and accomplishments. There are two boys, Gabe and William, who were slower to warm to mentors and more apt to test us. I discovered what worked best with each. William needs attention, and I discovered his wonderful spirit and sense of humor and song, even with some for the difficulties he’s had in like. I’ve worked to help him have chances to succeed in class. Gabe, on the other hand, is very bright and most likely beyond fourth grade level. So, sometimes he gets bored. A key to his success is to give him responsibility. He is a leader amongst his peers. Also, sometimes he has anger management issues and gets into fights. This was a problem at the beginning of the year, but through making a contract with Annette and making good choices, the end of the year has looked good. He has the presence of thought to recognize times that are most likely for aggression occur (at the basketball court) and help calm or step out of the situation.
There were also students that remained quiet and reserved. One such student is Maria S. She may be quiet, but her smile would light up the room. She had to leave for a few months, but when she came back I started to see her excitement and talent for poetry. I attended her class’ poetry tea and was amazed to hear her strong voice when reading her poetry. I don’t know how much I’ve affected the kids, but I know that CalSERVES After School is a safe place, and in my class I’ve given them a voice and let them know their voice and opinion are valuable and encouraged. I have learned from each student. From Denise, I learned never to be afraid to be the only one voting for something. Esmeralda taught me strength when she had to have an operation, Logan’s lack of fear of life even with all the scrapes he gets, Ricky’s energy and joy for life, Beatriz’s kindness and encouragement. Quan has gone from Vietnamese language and culture to English in three years, which is amazing, and he pretends not to care, but then gets excited when he gets something he’s had difficulty with. I jog with Anai and Ivan every morning and hear their thoughts. Erica used to be quiet, but with our help has begun to open up and smile and see her worth.
These are some of the students I have impacted, and I know I have learned from. My favorite quote from this year is William saying, “Don’t underestimate the power of my mind.” I hope each of us comes to believe the same thing.
Dawn Basinger, CalSERVES
AmeriCorps Mentor
My name is Dawn Basinger and my story begins in the beginning of the school year, 2004, at Sheppard Elementary. The month of September I started working with the third grade class of around twenty-two students. Having a fourth grader, I thought it would be no problem at all. Well, like any new person in your life, there is going to be trials and tribulations, test after test. One child seems to need more attention and care than others. His name is David, and had little or no patience to deal with me in his class. I watched him with others and realized it was nothing personal. He was having problems with his peers as well. So, I had him sit with me and tried to find a way to relate to David. I gave him several chances to find out what was going on in his life. So, after talking to his mother, she shared that she was going through a divorce and had a restraining order out against him (her husband). This child was going from a household with two parents to a single parent household of only one. So, he was angry and sad with everyone. Through spending time and giving him tasks, David starting opening up and sharing more with his peers. He is trying to stay motivated in making sure he was aware that homework is the most important thing to others around him and myself. We spent many hours a week trying to get him caught up with his teacher and class. David struggled but never stopped trying as long as I continued an open relationship between him and his mother. This, I believe, showed David that we truly care about how he was doing in and out of school. I believe that David taught me to be more caring, patient, and understanding, no matter how young he was. Experience means nothing if we can’t help the ones we love, and we are never too old to stop learning from one another, no matter what the age. Truly, I gave my time and attention to the third grade class each Monday through Friday, and I carried the experience with me day in and day out, growing as a parent and mentor.
I was moved to fourth grade, and it was hard fitting into a routine that was so different. But they really needed an extra mentor for the class. So, I worked closely with the mentor in the class to find out what works for them and what I really could do to contribute to a successful class. After a month, the kids started coming to me and asking for my assistance, and the relationship began all over again with another class. Erica Sanchez is one student that I really made a difference in her life. It was a day I had to leave early, but Erica came into the classroom crying, and she needed to talk. So, I stayed and listened for a while, and we both decided she wasn’t happy and needed to find a solution to her misery. Her teacher, Mr. Healy, was brought into the equation so we could all figure out what would make Erica safe and happy again. I mentioned maybe she needed someone to talk to about what was really going on. The following day, Erica came into class with a smile and thanked me for our talk. I went home and hugged my daughter, shared the story with my fourth grader, and it made us grow closer and respect each other as friends. My life has truly changed according to all the children in my life that have helped me realize what it feels like to truly be alive.
Sarah Rapp, CalSERVES
AmeriCorps Leader/VISTA
I am now a high school teacher at Elsie Allen, where I am beginning to see the students I worked with in elementary school as an AmeriCorps member. Here at Elsie this year I teach a college preparedness class for motivated (but under-represented) students. We are currently recruiting for next year's class, and I met this 9th grade student who had been recommended by her teachers. She seemed strangely familiar, and I was delighted to realize that she must have been a CalSERVES reading tutoring student when I was at Wright seven years ago.
Today, I interviewed her, and WOW! Ana already has her sights set on Stanford (she wants to be a pediatrician and also get a Master's in English), she is in the school band, and next year she will be taking two additional classes beyond the ordinary 10th grade curriculum to get ahead (Honors Spanish before school and also a class at the JC). In fact, she is doing so much and so successfully that she probably doesn't have room in her schedule for my class!
I asked her if she had been in the reading tutoring at Wright, and she remembered it fondly. She clearly recalled her tutor's name, and that for her birthday in second grade she'd been given a book that was a third grade book. She remembers that she was proud that she could read that book. This student told me that she will be successful, and that her motivation comes from within. She said that her parents don't really encourage her, but that she sets goals for herself and then works to achieve them.
Ana is lovely, mature, kind, and intelligent. I was so impressed with her, and so happy to her that she had been in SCHOLARS as a second grader. I know that her experience in gaining skills and confidence with your program has without a doubt contributed to the amazing 9th grader she is today.
This experience made my day!
Kristen Valstad, CalSERVES
AmeriCorps Mentor
I served as an AmeriCorps tutor for two years at Sheppard. As a tutor I was able to see the various stages of the reading process and learned how to develop plans to help best fit my tutees individual needs. My two years of service taught me many skills and strategies for both reading and writing that I have taken with me to this day. I was also able to meet and start relationships with people in the field of my interest that I continue to develop today.
Through my experience as a reading tutor I gained valuable knowledge that I am proud to say I use in my classroom today as a 5th grade teacher at Sheppard. I am grateful for all the experiences I have had and believe that it has made me a better, more informed, teacher.
Josh Newman, CalSERVES
AmeriCorps Mentor
[CalSERVES] was my first real hands on experience working with children in an academic setting. This experience added to my inspiration of becoming a teacher. I acquired valuable tools and insights into the teaching profession. I suggest to anyone desiring to become a teacher to first try the adventure of CalSERVES.
