My junior year of high school I
volunteered on the weekends helping kids with mental disabilities learn how to
ski. This was my initial experience of working
with people with disabilities. However,
I had never worked with older individuals with disabilities. It was a daunting task. Kids were always very friendly, and I had no
idea if it was going to be the same with older.
However, I was very excited to start working with Robbie.
On the day
of my first visit, I was nervous getting through class in the morning and
before we left. My thoughts raced with
ideas of “what if he doesn’t like me?” or “what if he is one of the harder
cases that Mary had told us of?”
However, once Abby and I arrived at the downtown office, it was apparent
I had nothing to fear. Robbie was eating
lunch and when we walked in a smile appeared across his face. We had a little awkward greeting and exchange
of our names, but before long, he became extremely friendly and talkative. Ten minutes into our first session, we were
already working on creating bracelets, drawing pictures and telling each other
our favorite things. He told me he loved
watching wrestling and his favorite wrestler was The Undertaker. We rounded off the visit with a trip to one of
his favorite places, Starbucks. As we
walked down the street, Robbie all of a sudden started running in front with a
grin from ear to ear. It was apparent he
was a little excited from the countless times he told me what he was going to
order: a pumpkin spice latte. It’s the
little things in life.
Although we
haven’t had much time to be around each other, what has stuck out to me was
Robbie’s love of the small things and how fun loving he is. From his love of just a latte from Starbucks,
something many of us take for granted, or even just his love of making
bracelets for his girlfriend and mother, he stays grounded, enjoying the small
things. I think a lot of us can learn
from Robbie’s outlook. Many of us in college
get so stressed out about big things and the future and everything in our crazy
busy lives that we overlook these things.
TAKE JOY FROM THE SMALL THINGS IN LIFE.
It’s a message that he continuously illustrates to me. It is a message that I need to take into my
own life. Don’t get hung up on things in the future and just learn to love the
small things.
Overall, I
have only spent a little bit of time with my mentee Robbie, but from this
little time, I am extremely excited to work with him and get to build a
relationship with him over the year. It
is extremely gratifying to get to work with someone, especially when you are hanging
out with them, like we all do, means so much to them. I am extremely excited to work with Robbie
and find the growth that both he and I can do together.
- Tyler Bianchetto
Knight of Gonzaga
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