Volunteers - Lydia Moore
Hi, my name is Lydia and I just graduated from Emory University (Atlanta, GA) with a BA in Sociology and Dance. When thinking about what I wanted to do after graduation, I realized that I did not want an office job where I answered phone calls all day. I also wanted to do something that would help people and help in my personal development. I researched many different service programs, and Catholic Charities Service Corps appealed to me the most. What I liked most was the idea of an intentional community and the fact that basically all expenses were paid, except for transportation and bills. I wouldn't have to worry about paying rent, finding a job with benefits, or paying for loans! In other programs, you may have to find your own roommates and find an apartment that is affordable on your stipend. We live in a big house that is completely furnished and the people I live with are more than just roommates. We take turns cooking, cleaning, and we eat meals together most nights of the week. We play cards and board games and explore the city of Buffalo together.
For my year of service, I am volunteering at Saints Columba~Brigid Montessori School as a Teacher's Assistant. It offers education for ages 3-6 (Pre-K through First Grade). There are three classrooms: two of them house three and four year olds and the third class is a mix of four, five, and six year olds. In my classroom, there are 23 children, or "friends," as we call them. There are some that are still two years old! The great thing about Montessori philosphy is that it allows us to work with the children at their level, so it's not like we require all the three year olds to know the same things. Some know all of the colors, and some only know blue and red. It's amazing how quickly the students learn at that age. One other great thing about the school is that it is a "peace site" and it values non-violent communication. We teach the children to define their own space and "use their words" if another friend is touching their work. Most children are tempted to hit or yell at another child if they interrupt their work. We simply ask them to tell their friend to "move away" and ask that child to listen. When I have babysat in the past, I have just simply said "don't hit your friend" but they never learn an alternative. This is a great way for me to learn about communication as well. I love working with children, and I'm not sure I want to be a teacher, but it's a possibility!
I'm not sure what my future holds for me. I would like to go to graduate school sometime in the next few years, but I haven't decided what I want to study yet (Social Work, Education, Counseling, etc). I am hoping that this year might give me some clarity.