As we were ending, [M] started tearing up and said, “gracias por quitar mi solitud, si solo por unos momentos.”
It was only then, that I realized my purpose.
In 2023, I spent a year in Mexico in what would become the most transformative experience of my life. That year revolved around teaching English to some 600 students across the beautiful city of Atlacolumco in various schools. While I valued the work, my life changed through the connections I made. I learned through the gentle teaching of my students, I belonged within the dance community I formed, I was cared for by the host family where I stayed, and I grew through my entire experience.
My past fundamentally changed the way I viewed the world and the connections I felt towards the Mexican community that gave me so much. Upon my return to the United States, I knew that I had to give the same generosity that I was so gracefully provided.
This drew me to the Young Center and the work being done to help unaccompanied children and youth. When I first heard of the Young Center, I must admit my place in the organization was not abundantly clear. I believed the most important work came from the lawyers and the people on the front lines fighting for these children. Certainly not from someone who can really only give an hour a week to talk and play some games. This view of my role completely changed as I began working with M.
“My purpose was not to change anything. It was not to make everything better. It was not to curse the evils of the world that put him in the position he was in.
My purpose was to sit with him as the whole world seemed to collapse around him. “
In my discussions with M, I began to learn the life of an unaccompanied child. Along with the impact of the Young Center and, by association, the wonderful group of volunteers.
If I could describe the experience of M in one word it would be lonely.
Profoundly lonely.
He spent his days going to school, then back to the facility, with occasional outings, and time spent with other children from the facility. Even when he found other immigrant children who he connected with, they were in constant transition. Few of his friends lasted more than a couple weeks. His classmates did not understand his experience and often poked fun at his lack of English. His mom was sick and often struggled to keep up consistent communication. Then there was me, a volunteer from the Young Center.
There were days when all we did was play games for an hour. There were days when we would walk for a whole hour, not talking at all. There were days when he spent the whole time talking about his past life. There were days when I stayed for 15 minutes, and others for an hour. There were days when he was sad, and others when he was incredibly excited. And I was present, often thinking I was doing nothing at all, until our final day.
As we were ending, he started tearing up and said, “gracias por quitar mi solitud, si solo por unos momentos.” It was only then, that I realized my purpose.
My purpose was not to change anything. It was not to make everything better. It was not to curse the evils of the world that put him in the position he was in.
My purpose was to sit with him as the whole world seemed to collapse around him. As the glimpses of light shined through. In the good, the bad, in the middle, I sat with him. Such a simple act relieved him from an all consuming loneliness, if only for a moment.
I dreamt often of an ideal world for M, yet I recognize that my dreams could never reflect his own. As such, I must simply, humbly ask that he reaches his own dreams. No matter how they change and evolve through life. As he deserves, just as all people do, to realize even the most farfetched dreams.
