Think back to when you were a kid. What was your "safe space" like? Was it your bedroom or the fort you built in your backyard? Who was the adult you turned to when your life was turned upside down? Now, imagine a world without your refuge, that comfortable place where you can go when life throws you a curve-ball and leaves you feeling isolated from everyone around you.
This is the life of many of the 540 students at our school. They are inner-city high school students living in one of our nation's toughest neighborhoods. Most of them hope to be the first person to graduate from high school in the family and hopefully attend and finish college. Nearly one hundred percent of them live below poverty level. The overwhelming majority come from broken homes, foster care, or group homes.
As their social worker and counselor, my job is to help our most learning challenged and disadvantaged students work through their difficult lives and discover a path to success. Relaxed while sitting in a bean chair, my students will learn through group sessions how to creatively overcome obstacles and turn problems into opportunities. Your support will bring students together and give them a safe place to interact with each other. They will learn study skills and compensation techniques with clipboard and highlighters.
Your donation will enable me to transform a nondescript, stale room into a colorful and exciting environment where the students can learn how to develop their skills so they can pass their classes, graduate from high school, and go to college. This flexible environment will improve social skills as the students are able to move around in a mobile space, utilizing their new beanbags, as they share and learn from each other. My students will learn cooperation and teamwork as they complete group challenges. You will give them a safe haven to learn, explore interests, and receive much needed counseling. They will focus on succeeding in school and achieving their goals of attending college. You will give many of my students the chance, for the first time, to learn and work together to develop the skills necessary to become successful adults.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Lorenzo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.