A delayed beginning...

Every time I try to begin this blog I become too overwhelmed with things I want to mention so end up freezing and deleting whatever I've said because it seems hopelessly inadequate. But I guess I'll give a few brief thoughts for now- so my love for my college life has made me dread that fateful day when I would have to enter into "real" adult life, with a less-than-ideal job and no time for those endless Olin Libe Cafe discussions about life and philosophy; but my experience working at the POINT already has changed my feelings about the future. Entering the dynamic, relaxed, communal environment each day, I feel energized and inspired to learn from the diverse perspectives of my coworkers and to create a curriculum that will stimulate the kids I will be teaching in the summer program. Because the POINT is not a school, I get the feeling that it is maybe even capable of teaching its kids more because they choose to be there, but it is a difficult challenge to give kids' intrinsic motivation when they are used to the extrinsic motives that school provides them, so Christine(another CUSP intern) and I are having an interesting and somewhat difficult time figuring out how we should approach the creative writing/drama class we are planning, but I love the challenge. I also realize how different the kids' and community's culture is from what I'm used to, and I find myself wanting to prove myself to them, whether it be by picking up new mannerisms, knowing the shows/artists they respect, going on a shopping spree in the South Bronx or showing them I can actually dance. Stepping on the subway from the upper east side and off into the south Bronx each day, I feel like I am traversing hundreds of miles underground, when in fact I am only traveling a few train stops away within the same city.