Blog – 3 Column

My kiddos are so young, but they are already accomplishing so much. I have students with dreams of becoming surgeons. I have students writing grants. I have students who can play multiple instruments. I have students with more dreams than their minds can organize. My experiences these past 8ish months have taught me how to dream again. I may not know whether dancing, engineering, or teaching is the dream, but I have begun to listen to the sound of hope again.

I am happy and proud to report that I am in the midst of my 3rd year as a Dominican Volunteer. It has truly been “an opportunity of a lifetime” for me.

I was first called to do this by a good friend of mine and fellow volunteer, Alecx, when they told me they were a Dominican Volunteer and said I should apply too. After a week of consideration, I finally applied, and was accepted not too long after.

Life in Houston matches life in any other part of Texas; laid back and simple. Good food, sunny days, and good company is all you need to have a good day. Nestled in the neighborhoods of this laid back city, is my little corner of Houston, Casa de Esperanza. Here, the days are anything but simple, which tends to happen when you’re taking care of children.

I woke this morning, as I typically do, with a song playing in my head. The song, titled above, was released in 1977. And yes I was alive then.
As I hummed the song this morning, I thought about where and who I was back then, who and where I am now, and how I got here.

Through my work as a compañerx I have also noticed how the smallest act of caritas such as listening to someone’s concerns on the phone, gives them peace of mind and allows them to move forward.