Can I come back?

My last day of summer program at PT has ended. Wednesday was my last day as an intern at Casa Linda United Methodist Church. I have had such a wonderful experience with Project Transformation. I have grown so much in my emotional and spiritual attitude. I have loved working with all of these interns and will miss them deeply. At this point, I can't fathom going back to college or working anywhere else because PT has become such a natural lifestyle for me. I feel so comfortable at PT and know that I could do it for the rest of my life! Unfortunately, Americorps decided to shut us down at two terms. Grrrrrr!!!!!

Entering into my last day, I knew that it was going to be a little bit of mixed feelings for me. Last summer I worked with the Elementary so I knew most of the kids downstairs. As for this year, I'm working with the youth. At the end of the summer, there is a week long event called Urban Camp where all the youth are invited to join us for one last hoorah! Knowing this, I wasn't really that sad for the day because I knew I would see most of my youth the following week. Nothing really hit me until it was about time to leave and I saw my Elementary. So many had heads down, eyes full of tears. As we released them one last time, I got so many goodbye hugs but probably got the biggest hugs ever from some of my younger girls, Paola and Salem, two of the cutest girls at Casa Linda! Each gave me a huge hug and started sobbing like crazy. All I could do was hold them and tell them how much I was going to miss them. After each had their turn, they waited outside for their parents. All I could then think of was "What am I going to do without them?"

As I then started to clean up one last time, I started to reflect. I know that I have made my impact on my Casa Linda kids. I feel that the kids got to know me as a very positive, friendly, and goofy role model. I love my kids to death and wish the best for them. I know that I can't come back and work with them so I have to do what I have been told. I must understand that the seed has been planted and I must move on with my life and let that seed grow. It's going to be very hard for me to not be able to come back next summer, but I trust that the next interns will take great care of my kids. I will continue to pray for my kids and for the future interns. May God bless them all in their paths ahead!