As Friday came around, I was pumped. It was the weekend, our first date party was Saturday and it was our first Friday being back with our second and fourth grade Girl Scout Troop.
A friend and I volunteer at a school near by campus every Friday as Girl Scout leaders. When we began first semester, I thought this will be fun! I love kids and especially second and fourth grade girls, it's always a good time.
They're at the age where they start to begin to find themselves. They are all old enough to dress themselves, socialize with whoever they want and develop their character.
On Friday, we were making necklaces for our jewelry badge. I sat down next to one of the second graders who was flying through making her necklace.
I simply asked, "How was your day?"
Now, thinking I would get the ever so typical, "fine" or "good". I got something I was not expecting.
She said with her head buried in her craft, "Today was a really bad day. It was not a good day."
And I replied with, "Why was today bad?"
She looked up from her necklace and said, "Today I was called dumb and other mean names. The other kids at school think I am dumb. They think I am dumb because I don't know how to do math so I copied off the boy next to me. I can't read very good and math is really hard for me."
Appalled with what this little girl just told me, I collected my thoughts. I said, "Well I can help you read and do your math if you like. And don't listen to the other kids, because you are not dumb. You are smart. Everyone is smart in different ways."
She looked up with her finished necklace and said, "If everyone is smart, how come people call each other mean names?" I simply didn't really have an answer. So I said, "Because people can be mean"
She gave me a little smile and then carried on to the next activity. But in that moment, I realized how incredibly sad it is that at such a young age she thinks she is dumb. That breaks my heart, she is so full of life, energy and positivity.
Of all my time volunteering through Girl Scouts, never have I had such a heartbreaking but yet compelling experience. I love going every Friday and seeing the girls because each of them has such a unique story and brings a different perspective to every idea.
