Children Say It Best

If you want to know just how important consistent and supportive adult mentorship is to a child, ask ten-year-old Catrice Washington who, along with her mother and sister, starred in Reverend Bruno's recent play, "I'll Be Home For Chistmas." When you wonder if community arts are really worth the investment, ask Catrice. When you wonder if kids these days are learning anything, well, just read what Catrice has to say in both essay and poetry forms:

MY EXPERIENCE, GROWTH AND HOPE
BY: CATRICE WASHINGTON

I HAVE LEARNED SO MANY THINGS SINCE JOINING MR. BRUNO’S DRAMA CLASS.
MR. BRUNO ALWAYS SAYS THAT OUR GOAL IS TO WORK TOWARDS BUILDING A FUTURE FOR THE YOUNG ONES IN OUR CLASS. THAT IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING A POSITIVE IMPRESSION AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR GROWTH. HE SAYS THAT WE ARE THE VOICES OF THE FUTURE AND THAT THEATER IS THE PERFECT WAY TO USE THAT VOICE TO SPEAK OUT.

I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT, STAY COMMITTED TO MY COMMITMENTS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH OTHERS. THOUGH MR. BRUNO CAN BE A LITTLE TOUGH, HE IS ALSO VERY PATIENT BECAUSE HE SEES THE VERY BEST IN EACH OF US AND WANTS US TO SEE IT FOR OURSELVES. I REMEMBER HOW IN THE BEGINNING WHEN I WAS CONVINCED THAT I’D NEVER GET IT OR WAS JUST AFRAID, I USE TO SAY. “I CAN’T DO THIS. I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS.” MR. BRUNO WOULD TAKE ME ASIDE AND SAY, “YES YOU CAN DO THIS. YOU HAVE MORE TALENT THEN YOU KNOW. YOU CAN AND YOU WILL AND ONE DAY YOU’LL SAY “THAT OLD MAN WAS RIGHT.”

WELL, I’M HAPPY TO SAY THAT DAY CAME SOONER THAN I EXPECTED. AND I GUESS THE OLD MAN WAS RIGHT AFTER ALL.

THE TRUTH IS, I CAN’T WAIT TO GET STARTED ON THE NEXT PLAY. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE JUST HOW FAR I CAN GO. I CAN’T WAIT TO WORK WITH MY FELLOW CAST MATES AGAIN. THEY ARE THE COOLEST OF THE COOL AND I’M SO GLAD TO KNOW THEM.

MY BIGGEST HOPE IS TO SEE LOTS MORE KIDS JOINING UP NEXT TIME AROUND. KIDS WHO DREAM BIG BUT DON’T KNOW JUST HOW FAR THEY CAN TAKE THOSE BIG DREAMS. THANKS TO MR. BRUNO’S JR. DRAMA CLASS, KIDS CAN COME HERE AND LEARN TO LIVE THEIR DREAMS. NOW I UNDERSTAND WHAT MY MOM MEANT: WITH ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT NOTIHING IS TOO DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE!

NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A POEM I FEEL BEST REFLECTS MY EXPERIENCE AND GROWTH. IT IS CALLED “LISTEN”

LISTEN…

YESTERDAY I FELT LIKE A TREE ON A HILL
WITH NO MOM OR DAD IN SIGHT
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOON IN THE BLUE NIGHT TIME SKY…
LONELY
YESTERDAY I FELT LIKE A LEAF FLOATING IN THE SKY WITH LOTS OF DREAMS TO LIVE.
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A VOICE ECHOING;
A CITY WITH LOTS OF SOUND.
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE AN ICEBERG STARTING TO MELT IN THE COLD BLUE ANTARTICA.
YESTERDAY I FELT LIKE AN OUTDOOR POOL WITH THE MOON REFLECTING ON ME; ASHSES AND A STONE THAT’S COLD.

IN THIS DARK QUIET LAND LAKES BECOME GARDENS
MY SOUL BECOMES A FRAGILE, PEACEFUL POND
I CHANGE-
MY HEART BECOMES LIKE STRONG, LOVING WATER
OH THERE IS KINDNESS ALL DAY!
BECOME THE TINY, BLUE, PEACFUL BIRDS.
LISTEN TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BROWN, GENTLE PEOPLE
IN THIS CALM, GLOWING WORLD!

Photo Credit: Heidi Hardin