Reflections on Seven Weeks Well Spent

I walked into the classroom at Cal State Los Angeles with my mind made up. It’s a real shame that I’ll only be with these kids for two weeks, I thought to myself. They sat there, looking a little uncomfortable and a little unsure of what the next seven weeks would bring. Some were introducing themselves to the others sitting near them; others kept to themselves or played with their cell phones, texting their friends about how they were bored and wished they were somewhere else.

It went like I expected, with each of the site staff introducing themselves in front of everyone and Diego periodically pumping up the students with exclamations of “USC is number... ONE!” loud enough so that anyone as far away as Cambodia could hear. But as each student introduced him- or herself to the rest of the class, my reservations diminished. There was something different about this class; there was an energy, a fire that I had never experienced during the program (albeit it was only my second summer on staff). I felt a connection with each student after he or she gave an introduction, and I knew I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave. Not these kids, not this summer.

So the show went on and I waltzed into Mudd Hall with great reservations. These kids were nothing like my students at Cal State Fullerton; they were a little more volatile, a little more unpredictable, and a hell of a lot more rowdy. The next seven weeks, let me tell you, were HARD. I made a promise to myself that I would go to bed at 10:30 each night so I would wake up refreshed; that went down the drain as early as the third week. I told myself that I would leave USC every day at 3:30 so that I could get to office and return home on time; I think I left that early once. I even convinced myself that I couldn’t grow to love these kids as much as I did my students from last year; I couldn’t have been more wrong.

USC was a force this year. Each and every day, I would walk through the double doors of our classroom mentally and physically exhausted, but the energy that emanated from 68 loud, rambunctious students can sustain someone so much more than the Rockstars and White Chocolate Mochas I used to keep me wired throughout the summer. It was never difficult to remain inspired because there was always someone working harder than me. I would come into class at around 7:30 each morning completely tired after going to bed at midnight and I would hear how some students pulled all-nighters after going to work to finish their financials or marketing plans. Then they would commute from as far as the Valley to get to class on time. What did I have to complain about?

And it wasn’t even about the students’ work ethics... After weeks of yelling, screaming, and arguing, these kids really did become family. I would often stand in front of the class, lecturing about the importance of respect and commitment to each other, but I didn’t believe that a class of 68 students from different walks of life could come together the way they did this summer, like a beautiful mosaic. During USC’s business plan competition, they would cheer each other on and celebrate if another group did well; they fed off each other’s success. Each time these kids threw up a “Fight On!”, they would throw up an “I Love You” as well. When Oknel was chosen to represent us, there was a genuine joy in each student’s face, and when Oknel didn’t place, a genuine heartbrokenness pervaded over USC’s normally enthusiastic demeanor. The truth is, these kids really did love each other, in a way that I have never seen any class come together over the course of my time at ABL. When I say that they shared their joys, sorrows, laughters, and tears, I mean that very literally. The empathy that each student felt for his or her classmates was remarkable, and something that will continue inspiring me as I continue my life after ABL.

So to my 68 kids at USC, best of luck to all of you; I thank God that you were able to change my mind about leaving ABL. Like I have told many of you time and time again, the reason I was able to do the things I did this summer was because I had 68 reasons every morning to go out and do my best. I love you all and I pray that this summer will only be mark the beginnings of the wonderful relationships I will be having with all of you in the future. Thank you for changing my life. I love you all.