AMY SYLWESTRZAK
Volunteer, Year 2
Taking kids who may be lost or don’t know how to express themselves or don’t know how to put a word to the feeling they are having and giving them a place and an outlet to do so. Kind of putting those pieces that they may feel are broken back together.
As with a lot of tragedies that happen with kids, they feel alone. They feel like no one understands them, that “I’m the only one that can feel this way.” They may feel ashamed to express themselves or embarrassed with their friends or other people who don’t necessarily understand. So giving them a place where they can meet with others that feel that way and can validate their feelings . . . they don’t feel ashamed to feel the way they do: anger, guilt, sadness, all those things. They can take that and move forward knowing they’re not alone.