Unexpected Introductions

Today we went for the first time to work at Washington Middle School for Girls in Anacostia, a low-income neighborhood. We were surprised to see how energetic all the girls were; when we walked in the room they were jumping and screaming everywhere. When we finally began to teach them some leadership games, we really got to know the girls. In icebreakers or in introductions, you would not expect someone to divulge personal information like, “ I never knew my father.” These girls had seen and experienced so much, that they introduced themselves in these ways. From this first day and this experience, I can already guess that we will be learning more from them than they will actually learn from us.

-Samantha S, JAM '08
East Brunswick, NJ