Last week, I left campus for my first weekly community service of my sophomore year. I was going to an afterschool program and really didn't know what to expect.

As we were pulling up, I became mindful of my surroundings. There were people standing there just watching us, almost in a creepy way. I ignored the uneasy feelings and walked in the door.

Never did I think I would fall in love with the site so fast. I typically prefer younger children, but something in me told me to do something different. I took a risk working with third, fourth, and fifth graders.

I worked one-on-one with one girl, trying to get her to finish her homework. This particular girl gave me a lot of sass and was stubborn. They didn't have school the next day, so she had no interest in homework.

Then, of course, the homework pass excuse came next. I reminded her that it's only September and she should wait to use it. Of course, she had a sassy remark back that she always loses hers.

The program director had warned me that this one girl will give me a hard time. Despite the girl's protests, I wasn't giving up on her like the program director had asked. When she saw the other kids painting, she, of course, wanted to paint, too. She had two questions left and I kept having to refocus her just to answer two questions. Like any child, she wanted to have fun, but homework comes first and she knows that. Her procrastination reminded me a little bit of myself and I empathized with her impatience.

When it was time to go, she did something that surprised me. This little girl, who gave me so much crap for making her do her homework, hugged me and said, "Thank you." I was speechless. I actually impacted a child's life in the span of an hour and she was grateful to have me there.

I left on a cloud nine buzz, still amazed at what had occurred. I gave up two hours of my day, a day when I had no classes, and it was the best two hours of that day--maybe even that week.