The end is ohh so bittersweet

Hello all!

It is hard to believe that in a few weeks City Year will be but a distant memory. So sad. Yesterday, was my last day with my kids and I still think I will be continuing my normal routine by seeing them on Monday. Sadly, I will not. As a sendoff for the year, I gave each of my kids a card with inspiring words and a lovely chocolate/vanilla cupcake. As for my teacher, I did the same and then some. As part of my lunch club experience, I have been working for the past few months on a dance routine for my third graders. One of the teachers at P.S. 48, who happens to be a phenomenal dancer, put on a show that took place last night. Although the kids and I were really nervous, it turned out to be a lot of fun and a huge success in the end. It was a great way to end the year and I will truly miss the little cuties.

Even though this was in May, we had a cool service day with ALCOA where they not only had a chance to visit us in the classrooms but for the first time come to our after-school program at “The Point”. It was a beautiful day all over. In the morning, we did a teach back learning about water pollution, then we had a science fair in which we all were the judges; a second grader who did an experiment on carnations changing colors in dyed water came in first place while my teammates, Mr. Chad’s, fourth grade class came in second. Next, it was off to “The Point” for a delicious meal provided by Chef and Co. and then stupendous service cataloging their library. I really enjoyed that day and it was nice way to end our year with ALCOA.

What can I say about this year? Definitely a toughie. For those of you who are doing it next year, I say to remember the kids because their smiles and loving attitudes truly leave a warming impression on you heart. Look for those beacons of light, people outside of CY, who see the work you do and help you to get by through smiles and words of encouragement everyday. I know I would not be anywhere without them. Thanks for an insightful and reflective year.

Yours in Service,

Candra

Nearing The End

Is graduation really just two weeks away?! I can vividly picture Registration Day and Basic Training Retreat (BTR) back in September and remember thinking how ten months seemed like such a long time. It was time that I was looking forward to but a long time, nonetheless. And now here I am… in June… two weeks away from graduation.

Once all of the physical/community service days ended last month, we found ourselves at a stand still. Physical service has consumed our lives the entire year, and then all of a sudden, BAM. They were done. Well, in NYC, at least. NYCE and a handful of other corps members had the privilege of attending a City Year Care Force trip to New Rochelle, NY, to take part in PepsiCo’s Global Community Service Week. It was, literally, a week straight of physical service! We organized three service days back-to-back, preparation and all! Over the course of the week, we engaged approximately 260 volunteers in physical service: landscaping, painting, planting, muraling, building, etc. We all had a great time despite the LONG hours (not much sleep was had on that trip!). We did amazing service and in such a short period of time. Never doubt the power of City Year and physical service! Since the Care Force trip, NYCE has been doing various projects: painting basketball courts in Astoria (Queens), posting signs in Hunts Point (the Bronx), cooking meals at God’s Love We Deliver (Manhattan), and working with the Green Apple Core!

Next week is cyzygy, City Year’s Annual Convention that brings together every City Year site in one location. It should be pretty exciting! There will be many speakers, workshops, and presentations as well as a concert and service day to conclude. From what I hear, it’s a very powerful experience, and I’m also excited to meet my fellow founding senior corps members for City Year Los Angeles ’07-’08! My corps year has been extremely fun, frustrating, successful, and trying, and I will carry many lessons with me to City Year’s newest site on the other coast this summer!

In service,
Lindsay Sablan
NYCE ’06-’07