Creator: Matthew Baldowski
This blog post is an overview of my time with St. Stephen’s Youth Programs as a part of Service-Learning.
My time at St. Stephen’s has been memorable to say the least. I had already received my orientation by the time I showed up for my first day of service. St. Stephen’s acts as an afterschool program for middle schoolers. Mentors work with them if they are having trouble with their homework, but also their friends, family, etc. Naively, I attempted to get a table full of seventh graders, just having a laugh with each other, to stop having fun and do math. Unsurprisingly, it did not go as planned. I was just some random. Just another mentor. From then on, I understood the importance of the bonding aspect of my service.
Coming from a Catholic education background, service is no new concept to me. For a couple of weeks, I mopped floors at a Boys and Girls Club from 9 to 5 and played with the kids when I had free time. However, it is much easier to bond with young children in a gym than it is with middle schoolers who have been told to do their homework. Over the weeks, I made sure I was talking to the same couple of kids so our relationship had a chance to go. Doing work with people you know, trust, and most importantly like allows it to be a lot more enjoyable. One of the boys from that original group is the one I have helped the most as I made sure we continued to talk each possible week. As a white college student raised in the suburbs, my opinions on lots of topics we discuss can vary with his. I like to feel as if I am diversifying him somewhat; I know for a fact he does agree with me on everything, but hearing different points of view in an honest conversation is perfect for growth. And that is what St. Stephen’s Youth Programs is all about: helping these kids succeed in not just their education but their lives.