Instead of writing a Torrey Paper this year, I’m participating in Solidarity. Solidarity is a program that reaches out to kids in poorer neighborhoods and provides them with after-school programs. Torrey Honors Institute partners with them both to serve the kids, and also to allow Torrey students to gain hands-on application to what they’re learning about community. Gathered here are a few of my thoughts from my experiences in Solidarity taken from my weekly Solidarity journal.

I’m really enjoying Solidarity! This week I was able to help with the kindergarten table, which was pretty fun. The kids at that table were pretty cute, and a lot of them have Spanish names I didn’t even know existed. It always takes me a while to hear their name right. The kids were really cute about the ways they wanted help with their homework. They’d ask you really quietly, and so you’d help them out. Sometimes you’d have to ask, and they’d shyly nod. It was a really sweet experience. Over at the other table, Cayley was having to work hard to keep the rambunctious third and fourth grades in check. I started to wonder if I could handle them, but needed to keep focused on my own kindergarteners.

The kindergarteners were always the first ones to finish their homework, so I went over and sat in the reading area and drew for the kids. They loved it. I learned that they really value art as a skill and a lot of them asked how I learned. If I was to do it differently, I would have left earlier to get there on time. We’ll have to do that next time.

I thought it was interesting how Solidarity goes about the bringing up of children. They’re raised in the virtue of encouraging, in a similar way that Plato is so specific about bringing up children in his city. It was cool to see that connection.

This week I worked with the older kids, fifth and sixth graders. I thought it was really cool the connection that the older siblings at my table shared with their younger siblings. They would point out their brothers and sisters to me, and then call them over to see my drawings. They were VERY impressed that I worked with Zach King. One of the odd questions I got over and over was how many YouTubers I knew. It was as if knowing one wasn’t enough. That seems to comment on the nature of the soul. That once you’re given something, you’re not satisfied. There’s always more to be had. Plato plays off this idea in his Republic. He’s content to make a healthy city, rather than a happy city. He realizes that once people get everything they want, they’re no longer really happy. They’re simply better off working towards something. It’s something I’ve discovered too. I couldn’t be happy simply working for Zach King for the rest of my life. I’d want something bigger. I already do.

I was really impressed by this tiny Indonesian girl named Rebecca with a huge personality. She’s easily the smallest at my table, thin as a twig, but takes it upon herself to help all the others with their homework. She’s loud and commanding, but in a friendly way. She even decided I wasn’t taking care of the attendance checklist well enough, and helped me out and did it all for me. I was really struck by her ability to engage with others quickly and humorously, as well as her sense of command and efficiency.

A few of the kids tried to jokingly assign me drawing homework, like come back next week with a Pikachu. It’s your homework! Ha ha, yeah, no. I quickly made it clear I don’t have time for any more homework. And, I really, really don’t.

Next week, I want to go in with more energy, as well as having prayed beforehand. I’d also like to work on getting the kids names down. I’m awful at that, but would really like to be able to love them in that simple way. It’s been super cool to see how the text has been interacting with my experience here, especially Plato’s Republic. I can’t wait to see what more God will do.