My first day at The Sunflower County Freedom Project was not what I had been expecting. Being a kid myself, I knew that students do not always immediately embrace a new teacher if at all. I prepped myself for the possibility of their skepticism towards me showing up five weeks into the summer program, but it proved to be unnecessary. When the students arrived I was immediately welcomed. Among the students ready to welcome me as their new intern was Ms. Brown. Ms. Brown discussed her time at the Freedom Project to help me settle in and learn about her life at the program.
Ms. Brown is a 2nd year at the Freedom Project who loves to sing, rap, dance, and write. Ms. Brown told me that when she first joined the Freedom Project she had a lot of attitude. She then looked up smiling and said "now I get along with everyone." She attributes her changed attitude to the people, which she and others here refer to as family, that participate in the Freedom Project. The most important thing Ms. Brown has learned from the project is that you do not need to fit in with a crowd. She has learned how to be herself and not feel the pressure to fit in. Only 13 years old, Ms. Brown has already begun writing a book. She is in the midst of a poetry book, already containing roughly 30 poems. Her goal is to finish writing her book and then continue writing more. Already extremely impressed with everything I had heard, I asked her what compelled her to join the Freedom Project. She replied by stating that her education is what her ancestors fought for, and that it was up to her to take advantage of it.
Olivia Manne
Sounds like there are some really cool people there. Keep us updated.
Posted by: BM | July 07, 2009 at 08:51 AM