|
|
|
Volunteer Voices The Essence of KOREH L.A.
My fourth year of being a reading partner at Charnock Elementary was the most rewarding one to me, since that is where I met and worked with a second grade student, Noah, a truly remarkable individual by any standard. This was the first time I had two second grade boys together, Noah and Josue. What began as a real challenge turned out to be a fulfilling experience for all of us. Both boys had a strong desire to succeed, were soft spoken, polite and well behaved (for second grade boys). But rather than discuss the day-to-day activities, I’d like to focus on Noah. Let me first say that Noah has Sickle Cell Anemia. Noah would frequently need to get a blood transfusion at Children’s Hospital the day before our session. Needless to say the procedure is both painful and traumatic. But over the past six months Noah only missed our session a few times, since he considers time we spend together so important to him, and he was always alert and cooperative. He occasionally got a headache during the session but pushed himself through it and went home afterwards. How can a second grader with such a serious illness be so brave and stay in the mainstream? A second incident shows another facet of Noah’s character. During one session it was Noah’s turn to read the next two pages of the book. He asked me if he could read different pages since there was a bad word there he couldn’t say. I told him to read the pages but skip the word, and he did. What was this word? “Stupid” Noah is also very magnanimous. At the start of each session, I ask both students whose turn was it to select the first book to read. Both invariably said it was theirs. Noah then had a retort that it was OK if Josue chose the first book. If only my kids were like that growing up! On my final session I met Noah’s mom, Sylinder, who helped solve the enigma. She had been a teacher at University High and has since retired to devote her entire life to Noah. Once I met her I began to understand Noah. She had helped instill all the characteristics that make Noah a very special person. When I related to her the bad word incident, her response was that he better not have said that word since nobody is stupid. I would like to add a few postscripts. First, Noah is now reading at grade level and enjoys reading both at home and at school. Second I volunteered to tutor Noah math over the summer since he needs some help in that area. We will be starting next week, and are both anxiously awaiting the moment. Third Noah has also been a real inspiration to me, since I have MS and sometimes don’t feel I have the energy to get out and tutor. But how could I not, when Noah is able to be there? He pushes me. What a great symbiotic relationship. Finally, some naysayers have asked me over the years why I even bother to try to fix a small part of the insurmountable problems with the public school system in Los Angeles. All I need to do now is to point to Noah for the answer. I hope and pray that he will have a long, healthy and happy life.
|
|
|
