Gabby Grimaldi is serving as an intern this summer through the Catherin V. Merrill Foundation Intern Program administered by Bishop Sullivan Center. A requirement of the program is provide a reflection each week on the experience. Here is one of Gabby's reflections.
Going into my first week of my internship, I had no idea what to expect, but after this week I am very excited for the rest of the summer and think Sheffield Place is the best place for me. After only a week I feel like I have developed good relationships with my coworkers and the children we care for.
Everyone at Sheffield Place was extremely welcoming and approachable and made my adjustment to the new job much easier. I also met the kids who live at Sheffield House with their moms. It was a really eye opening experience because these kids have had such different lives than I have had. These kids are so young but have already been through so much, which makes my job even that much more important.
When they are with us at Project Hope, they just get to be kids and not have to worry about anything else. They get to play and have fun and enjoy things that most kids get to. We want to be able to offer a safe space for them and let them take a break.
One of the moments that sticks out the most from my first week is with one of the 2 year old boys named Jayden. It was during afternoon group and the younger kids were running around playing with different toys. Jayden brought a plastic octopus up to me and put it on my head. I tilted my head and it fell off, which made Jayden burst into a huge laugh. He picked up the octopus, put it on my head, let it fall, and laughed again. This continued for about 10 minutes, switching between me putting it on his head and him putting it on my head.
Seeing him with such a huge smile on his face made my day, and I felt like I could see God through him giving me a bright spot in my day. Those little moments in the day of the kids make the long hours of cleaning and trying to get the kids to listen worth it.
This week I felt grateful for the life that God gave me, and even more grateful for this opportunity to serve those who have faced more hardships in their lives than I have. Service has always been a big part of my faith, as I feel that giving back to those in need is the best way to try to live a life that exemplifies how Jesus lived.
I know how blessed I have been in my life, so I see service as a way to help those who have not been as blessed and remind them that God is always with them even through the hard times. This is more than just a summer job to me. I hope that I can have an impact on the lives of these kids and families in need, but I also know that they will have a huge impact on mine too and help me look at things from a new perspective.
