Alexis Lawless
Salvation Army
October 17, 2012
Circle K
Wednesday, October 17th, was my first Salvation Army experience. The club I’m in, Circle K, goes every Wednesday. The Salvation Army is located in Atlantic City, NJ. Every Wednesday, a couple club members carpool to A.C. They go to Texas Avenue School, which is one of city’s many elementary schools. The club members help students, ranging from 5 to 12 year olds, with their homework after school from 4:00 PM to around 5:30 PM.
The first thing I noticed when I got out of the car in front of the school was how dangerous and sketchy of an area the school was in. The classroom wasn’t all that different. There were three out-of-date computers in the class I was in. Also, it looked like a class I had when I was in first grade. That right there told me that they haven’t renovated the school at all. There were also very few actual desks and two tables for the rest of the kids to sit at. The kids themselves were out of control because the teachers were not authoritative whatsoever.
After I witnessed this, the teacher had the kids that didn’t have homework play in the gymnasium. It was very old and looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. The teacher threw the kids a football and let them be. I decided to play with them and I started to get to know these kids on a different level. They were happy and having a good time. They were also extremely happy to see me and the other club members, even though they have never met us before. It honestly made me blush.
Once I had enough of running around, I decided to go next door and help the kids that did have homework. While doing so, I met two hilarious 4th graders who shocked me with their brilliance. I also talked about sports and music with them, and their knowledge of both made my day.
Before we left, I witnessed two things no child should have to go through or do. The first was seeing a child get yelled at by a teacher for his parent(s) being late to pick him up. The second was as I was walking to the car outside, I saw a group of 4 or 5 students walking home in that same dangerous area I mentioned above. They were alone.
Growing up in a place like Atlantic City as a child cannot be easy. I didn’t realize this until I witnessed it first-hand. I feared for those children’s lives that had to walk home alone at 6:00 PM in the area we were in. I probably wouldn’t have even done that at the age I am now.
After my first Salvation Army experience, I realized how lucky I am to have grown up in the school district that I did, which is Egg Harbor Township. It’s not fair that these young kids have to live and learn in a place that doesn’t even have up-to-date computers or a classroom that is large enough to fit them all. One thing I was very impressed with is how happy-go-lucky all the children were. I know kids that complain about school every day that have some of the most beautiful classrooms and amazing teachers. I know I did, and I am never going to take my education for granted ever again.
I will continue to go to the Salvation Army as many Wednesdays as I can to be with these kids, either it be playing sports with them or helping with homework. While I am teaching them how to solve math equations and fix sentences, they are helping me become a more aware individual and teaching me to be content with all the gifts I do have in my life.