School is a place where dreams can be created or shattered. As a kid, your life revolves around your friends at school and your family at home. And if you're like many of the kids at our schools, life at home can be filled with hardships, struggles, and pain, which means that school plays an even bigger role in the lives of our students. For some kids, school is a refuge and a safe place for them to learn, grow, and explore - and we're fortunate enough to provide that safe place to some of the best kids around.
I spend most of my days sitting in front of a computer applying for funds for our schools. I write grants, update social media sites, help with marketing and fundraising, and do my best to make sure that our schools have the resources to function every day. There are times when I feel far removed from the kids that my work serves. But there are also days like last Friday, when I get to enter a school and bear witness to the amazing work that happens in our classrooms everyday. As I walked the halls at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School, I overheard kids laughing and learning - reading books in English and listing times tables in Spanish. It was an amazing reminder of why this work matters.
We know that there are many challenges and hardships that will present themselves throughout the course of this year, and we're prepared do our best to persevere and overcome the obstacles as they come. But right now, we look forward with anticipation for all the ways that our students will grow and mature this year. There's a lot to be done and many things to be learned, but we feel thankful for the opportunity to improve the lives of those we serve.
