when things start to look up, the ymca must be behind it

am officially working at the Y again as of today. I have only been a sub since september, due to school/working in the lab as an RA taking up all my time; but being a sub simply does not due justice to how fun and rewarding it is to be a full-time staff. so yep, from today until the end of august, I AM BACK! I love it there. I am especially excited for summer kamp to start, with the return of all the special needs kids I have not seen since last summer! ah, so excited, it just brings tears to my eyes; the good kind.

this summer will mark the beginning of my fourth year working at the ymca. I cannot bring to words how much working there has changed me and my life, of course for the better. I have met there some of the most caring, compassionate and extraordinary people I have ever known. I have learned there what no book or class on the planet could ever come near to teaching me... including matters on every kind of diversity, acceptance of peoples differences and shortcomings, and the importance and impact that even the most simplest of actions can have on someone else's life (to name a few). the children, the staff, the center, and everything else in between; have made for me some of the best experiences of my life, and will surely make for some of the best memories I will ever have to look back on.

often times, just generally speaking in my day to day life, I feel like I do not fit in and am just different; and have a lot of difficulty relating to most people around me. when I am at the Y, all of that disappears. it is my family, my home, and everything in the world that makes me feel warm and happy inside, not to mention safe and confident. here is to an amazing summer!

a pic of us walking down the kids from school to the Y this afternoon.