Wow, what an adventure in endurance and social skills. As I have mentioned before, I spent Wednesday, March 2nd, at the Compton Education Association's Read Across America event. I was pleasantly surprised by the venue and the personalities that showed up to read and organize the event. I had a lot of fun, meeting both the celebrities and professional teachers. I don't know how to wrap my head around it.
If I get the chance to go again, I would. I can't speak for everyone's experience with the Compton school district, but I found everyone to be welcoming and grateful. What really wowed me, though, was the celebrities that showed up to read for the district. I expected a lot of ego and dispassion, but each reader truly loved being there and encouraging the kids--which made me enjoy the event even more.
There's something refreshing about hearing their personal take on their own stardom, their drive to succeed, and their enjoyment of reading there at the event. I now respect them more than I thought I would. It was odd, though, seeing how an (just-turned-today) eight-year-old girl's drive to help fight cancer (the adorable Madison Moellers's Stand Up 2 Cancer).
So, as I'm still wrapping my head around yesterday's event, here are some highlighted moments.
Top Five Moments at the Event (for me):
5. Meeting Teddy Sears, of Raising the Bar, and getting to know that he comes from a military family.
4. Meeting Greek's Paul James.
3. Talking with Marieve Herington, of How I Met Your Mother, about eyeglasses and military deployments.
2. Alyssa Campanella, Miss California 2011, eating a donut (and having me take a picture of it).
1. Spongebob (Tom Kenny) leaving my daughter a voicemail.
Some pictures to follow, once I pull them from the camera.
Bonne chance.
If I get the chance to go again, I would. I can't speak for everyone's experience with the Compton school district, but I found everyone to be welcoming and grateful. What really wowed me, though, was the celebrities that showed up to read for the district. I expected a lot of ego and dispassion, but each reader truly loved being there and encouraging the kids--which made me enjoy the event even more.
There's something refreshing about hearing their personal take on their own stardom, their drive to succeed, and their enjoyment of reading there at the event. I now respect them more than I thought I would. It was odd, though, seeing how an (just-turned-today) eight-year-old girl's drive to help fight cancer (the adorable Madison Moellers's Stand Up 2 Cancer).
So, as I'm still wrapping my head around yesterday's event, here are some highlighted moments.
Top Five Moments at the Event (for me):
5. Meeting Teddy Sears, of Raising the Bar, and getting to know that he comes from a military family.
4. Meeting Greek's Paul James.
3. Talking with Marieve Herington, of How I Met Your Mother, about eyeglasses and military deployments.
2. Alyssa Campanella, Miss California 2011, eating a donut (and having me take a picture of it).
1. Spongebob (Tom Kenny) leaving my daughter a voicemail.
Some pictures to follow, once I pull them from the camera.
Bonne chance.