Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said “everybody can be great, because everybody can serve” and those powerful words couldn’t be any truer. With a small group of individuals, change can be made in a very minute way but send a colossal message to people all around them. On January 16th, City Year New York will honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day of powerful service. Born and raised in East Harlem, New York, I now have the unique honor to serve the community I call home. January 16th will be an especially empowering day of transformative service I’m truly excited for. Aside from the negative connotations East Harlem may receive at times, there is so much more to my neighborhood than violence and poverty. Everyone who lives here has such a deep, rich culture that can be infectious to anyone who interacts with the people of el barrio, whether it may be stopping in a bodega or smiling to a fellow passerby.
Serving with City Year at PS/MS 57 in East Harlem is one of the best opportunities that I could even ask for. I am so grateful for my school community; the teachers, students, cafeteria and custodial staff. Everyone has such a positive presence that it’s hard not to smile when you are walking around the building. While I walk to school, it makes me feel happy to see all of the kids entering the Tiger doors with smiles on their faces ready and eager to learn. On Tuesdays, the 2nd graders swim at MS 45, the same pool my younger sister and I learned how to swim. It is truly an inspiration to see so much enthusiasm my students embody every day.
During the first few days as a corps member in my school, I quickly became amazed and fascinated at how many knowledgeable and intelligent thoughts the students shared with me. At times, my students overwhelm me with questions, but I can’t complain because it speaks to their curiosity in learning. I am regularly proud of my students’ confidence, ability to speak up and interest in learning new material. I am anxious to see them excel and overcome any academic challenges. I fully enjoy being in the classroom, working with students one-on-one, and their bright personalities. I appreciate them for making me a better person by learning how to see different perspectives and how to approach various situations. My students are the reason why I want to be a better leader and serve my East Harlem community.
Serving on MLK Day will show our students what it means to be a leader and a great role model. Service is an excellent way for children to learn different skills and apply them to their everyday life. Coming together as a whole provides a great opportunity for the people of East Harlem to give back to their own community through exceptional service on MLK Day. I am proud to serve as a role model in East Harlem every day and on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2012.
By Jessica Cantey, City Year New York Corps Member
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