SamanthaThomas

Samantha Thomas

2-11-09

Reflection 5

Today was a more mundane day because all of us had worked extremely hard all week to help these shelters. Today, my group helped one of the education administration tutor the GED students and make packets and copies for all of those students who needed their math homework in order to study for the final exam. First thing this morning, we were assigned to a particular classroom to help out with. Akia and I were assigned to the math 2/3 class where we helped the men with fractions, geometry, and general math skills. However, teaching the specific skills was not the most rewarding part of it all. During the time when we were there, we met some very interesting individuals. One of those individuals was Ron Taylor who said he was 43 and wants to become an electrician. He had struggles as a young man with addiction to alcohol and drugs and he said, “The Lord set him free when he sent me(Ron) to this program.” After seeing the work he could do and how bright he was after I finally managed to convince him to finish his work, I knew this could become a definite reality for him.

I also met a young man named Michael who was only 18 and wanted to attend UNC when he graduated the program at the rescue mission. He and I had a heated debate about UNC basketball versus Duke basketball and finally came to the agreed consensus that we were both pulling for the same team. He is definitely a person I would love to get to know better and maybe watch a few games with. J

During the second part of the afternoon we sorted through the piles of portfolios filled with work from the various classes the men are taking so that we might be able to make copies of some of their work in order to provide them with a study guide for the final GED exam. While looking through some of their work, you would never know or expect to see how much they know and can teach us. One man wrote about freedom as if it was not a goal but a promise that everyone should have fulfilled. Another wrote about his family and how much he missed them, I could honestly say that I did tear up while reading this one. It goes to show you how these men are human and not just homeless.