Dia Uno

There were so many thoughts running through my head all day today. My day began at six a.m and as I am writing this post at almost 11 p.m, I am preparing for the long day ahead of me tomorrow. It genuinely baffles me how focused, polite, determined, and well-rounded all of the kids at KIPP Gaston are. I just spoke with one of my friends at home over the phone and as I was telling him about the strict discipline procedures implemented on the children, especially in the middle school and he was astonished; as am I even when I am merely explaining how the school is run. 

To think that these students spend 9 hours in school a day makes me regret how much I complained about six and a half hour school days when I was in middle and high school. And not even the long school days, but the hours some of the students travel in order to attend school seems absurd as well. Essentially these kids devote their entire weeks, Monday through Friday, to their education. It makes me wonder what their lives are like outside of KIPP and if the kids even do anything enjoyable, outside of school. 

I was very impressed with the teaching quality I observed across the board. The observations today really gave me a much higher appreciation for teachers and how much work they put into their jobs, especially the teachers at KIPP. It seems that all of the attention and motivation the teachers place on the students have the ability to truly shape them as people. I have never in my life seen so many mature, and well developed children and young adults, especially in a school setting. Coming from an arguably "rowdy" public schooling environment, it was a huge shock to me to see such a well behaved group of students. It is very interesting to compare and contrast schools and backgrounds.

I can not wait for the rest of this week and the experience we are all about to endure. More to come :)

- xoxo Ali Bee xoxo