Thoughts

The New York Service Learning group, an immensely talented bunch of youngsters that aren't much to look at upon your first glance; however, once you give these high schoolers a purpose, they're a sight to marvel at. If there was anything to take away from this Saturday, it was that this Service Learning group is cohesive and can achieve any and all goals that they set out to do. The morning began normally with a mess of people hunched over the center island as they prepared their lunches and snacked on assorted breakfast treats. As always, I sat back and watched the crowd move down the sandwich assembly line all the while I enjoyed knowing that I would not have to partake in the chaos (due to the fact that lunch is my least favorite of the meals of the day). We then all filed into the lobby of The Paper Factory and made our way underground. Little did we all know that we would be in for a show, literally. As we were all waiting to arrive at The Jackie Robinson Park, a three man band joined us in our travels, completely lightening our mood for the day. Something so little to others, became another highlight in our trip. After exiting the train and taking a short walk, we entered the park in which we would soon exhibit our ability to conquer all obstacles that fall before us. Our task, destroy all of the invasive weeds in our path. With shovels, rakes, and bags in tow, we all  mounted a massive attack on the enemy that we would soon become far too familiar with. Within only a few hours, a majority of the group was covered head to toe in mud, with the occasional stream of blood that would arise from pricker bushes. By the end if it all, we had demolished any hopes that the enemy had of regrowing. Together, and as a team, we had become a force to be reckoned with. It was incredibly amazing to see the work that only a group of high school kids we able to get done in only a few hours. But in the end, our work stretched beyond ourselves. We did this work for the town of Harlem, not because it would make us feel better about ourselves; but, because we have to help each other out as human beings. After all, we are all in this together.
-Daniel S. Monahan