What is a typical day for Katie? It is anything but typical that is for sure. One thing that is always the same is the 6am bells to wake me up every morning without fail. The roosters are calling and the sun is shining and it is time to start the day! I would get to school most days around 7 to get things together before it was time to pray the Rosary with students before the school day starts. Teachers and students are running around to hang in last minute assignments before the homeroom bell rings and the days starts. I was a Information Technology for first and second form (9th and 10th grade). I was also the schools Campus Minister. I was in charge of putting on weekly Adoration, retreats for each class, Catholic Jeopardy, guest speakers from the States and various other events that would come up throughout the school year. For me everyday was different. Some day I would be in the classroom all day and other days I would be getting ready for the next retreat. After school never meant rest time. There were always students coming in for questions and extra help or the next “futbolito” game. When the school day is over and the futbol’s games have finished the day is still going strong. A huge part of this year is the community life. We have daily Holy Hours and Mass together. After Mass we usually try to do something together whether it be everyone ore just a girls night and a guys night. One thing was always the same everyday. When I would lay my head on my pillow every night I knew I had done something that day. Each and every day was a day of continual giving and receiving.
One of the biggest blessings of this year was being in charge of a second form (10th grade) all boys homeroom. They were definitely a handful more often than not, but they were such a joy. I would walk in every morning to take attendance and get them ready for the day and without fail someone would always be running up to tell me something or ask me a question in panic. I am so thankful for these boys. They taught me that the more I demand and expect respect from the students I would get it. One of the questions I had asked myself coming down here to teach was how was I going to show my students that I love them. Us missionaries at Mount Carmel have not only the role of being teachers, but rather we are the parents, counselors, big sisters/brothers, coaches, etc. Our kids here are looking for people to look up to and to go to for advice. I found that the more I got to know my students and I learned about their lives and their family life the more I started to take on their own pain. My kids have gone through more than I can even imagine and yet they are still filled with so much joy. A day did not go by that I did not laugh until my sides hurt. You really become a family at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a huge part of that is the community. A lot happens in a year – tears, laughter, joy, and sadness. It’s beautiful when even just a little bit of trust in God can change someone so much.
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