As time went on we were started BTA(Basic Training Academy) which is a full month of learning everything we can about City Year, about what we are doing and how to do it correctly while getting the best out of the experience. Even though i'm here to change the world, it's not the only thing that I am gaining from being here. Along the way I have made some amazing friends, met some amazing people from all over the country, and made some unforgettable bonds. The other corp members are way more than I expected, they are very very intelligent, honest, funny,amazing,good looking, fun, wild, and best of all we all get along SO FAR! I never thought a group of 56 individuals who have no idea what they were getting there selves into came together for a common cause, something bigger than us. I have made some amazing friends, friends that I never thought I would ever run across and if it weren't for City Year it wouldn't have happened.
BTA has had it's ups and downs, and it's been fun and confusing, basically every feeling all in one is basically how I would sum it up. We started of will no uniform parts, looking like random people off the street with some nametags walking up and down the streets of Manchester looking crazy. We had many trainings in many different places, the hottest being West High Schools Library, but we also sat in a bunch of rooms looking at powerpoints, and for most of us felt like we are back in a college classroom, and that was not fun at all. The weather didn't help us out, it was crazy hott,sticky,smelly,and sweaty. But it had to be done, and it felt good to know that I wasn't the only one sitting there feeling the same way. But then we had some really good trainings that were interesting and had us moving around and wake up a little bit. BTA basically consisted of training after training. But then it got fun.
We filled out our preference sheets, and then we were assigned a team and team leader and I can't even tell you how stoked I am about the team I got. I got Beech Street Elementary Starfish along with 8other corp members, and my team is amazing. Our team leader is the best, and I still have a cheesy smile on my face because i'm so happy about my team. We are a close knit team, and I feel so comfortable with them, and have a great time during our team time, but we still get things done. As a team we are going to accomplish so much in just a short period of time all while still getting to know each other and have a great time.
BTR(Basic Training Retreat) at camp Berea was amazing. It was very very intense, but I think it brought us together not only as teams, but also as a group. I'm just saying this place had the most amazing view i've ever seen in my life. It was so calming, and brought us down to earth. We got to swim in the lake, got breakfast,lunch,and dinner, the camp provided us with amazing help, and they were so hospitable. Loved this place and can't wait to go back in Jan. Our trainings were surrounded around the cycle of oppression. Talk about intense you learned a lot about yourself and about others. Let's just say I feel closer to the people here than some of the people I know at home, but so worth it. GREAT TIME
When we got back from BTR it was crunch time, and time to go into the schools, meet the principal, and meet a couple of teachers. It was great, the principal is amazing and they are so welcoming to the job we are there to do, and they welcome us with open arms. After we went into schools we started to get uniform parts which made us stronger, and look like we belonged to an amazing corp. We looked good, and were ready for the 1st day of school, which went amazing. When I saw the 1st kid at school I knew that this was the place I knew I was suppose to be, and I didn't have a doubt in my mind that we would make a change. The 1st day we made some bonds with the students in different classes, and then we knew that when this came to an end, it would be so hard. It's been a wk know since we started school, and i'm in love. I'm in love with the students, with the teachers, with this town, with the people I work with, and with the job i'm doing.
Friday September 10, 2010 marked the end of BTA, and that was a bitter/sweet day. We started off the day with our team challenge which consisted of many different things that proved our loyalty, and knowledge of City Year, and this was the day that we showed that we wanted those Red Jackets. We wanted to wear the Jacket that was bigger than us. This jacket symbolized something that we all knew we embodied. We knew we were ready to put wear it. WE ALL KNEW WE WOULD BUT WE ALL EARNED OUR JACKETS! If I must say so myself we all look really good in those jackets too!
That's the start of my Journey, be looking out for more,because I know this will be an adventure, and a journey I know I will accept with open arms, and an open mind!
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