Unfortunately due to some
slow milkshake making we were 45 minutes late to the Sunflower County Freedom
Project. None of us really knew what we were getting ourselves into, all we
knew is that we were asked to research the economics, demographics, and
education in Sunflower County and the Mississippi Delta. A very friendly face
greeted us as we walked into the building, which was colorful and smelled like
a farm, but a nice smelling farm. For about ten minutes we spoke about the SCFP
initiative, which consisted of helping kids study, socialize, exercise, and
garden - things that we all may take for granted at several points in our
lives. We were brought into a room where we played a game in order to bond with
the 7th-12th graders that attend this program after school from Monday-Thursday.
After the game we began to compare our everyday lives with theirs, and the vast
differences that I saw from no extra curriculum other than football and
basketball to the closest movie theater being an hour and a half away were eye
opening. I always knew how privileged and blessed I was to be able to attend
school where I can play three sports and participate in numerous clubs, but
this put it into another perspective. Seeing how much the participants were
excited at how many activities I had access to be heartbreaking. It was
beautiful to me seeing how eager they were just to have a proper education and
go to college, and it finally makes me appreciate all of what I have. Today was
life changing and I know that I 100% want to return to SCFP at some point in my
life to help and learn from them myself.
-Emily Berner, The Park School of Baltimore
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