Why Cleveland!?

As I opened up my email I was filled with a burst of excitement as I realized that I would be going back to Cleveland for year five. Despite my proclamations only a few months earlier that I would never have to deal with another Cleveland winter, I felt a sense of excitement and peace when I was accepted into the program. As I shared the news with different family members and friends from Pittsburgh they just didn’t seem to understand. You want to go back? Didn’t you have enough of Cleveland and aren't you ready to move back home?

Within the last four years of living in Cleveland I have realized that the city just hasn't been given justice. There are the many stereotypes -dirty, dangerous, poor, ugly. I have heard them all. Yet, over the last few years I have grown fond of Cleveland . I love the abundance of diversity, art, food and culture that the city offers. The cute little coffee shops, beautiful old houses, and the presence of the many universities never seem to get old to me.

The last month has been filled with lesson planning, tutoring, teaching, bus riding, roommate bonding, researching, report writing, GRE studying, and an abundance of activity. At times life has been busier than I would have liked, yet I am very happy.

For starters I love being in a school during the day. I don't care how dorky I sound. There is nothing better to me than a moment during tutoring when a student has a lightbulb moment and they are filled with confidence. Those are the moments that make all frustration that I have experienced dissipate. There is something strangely calming for me about the chaos of students shuffling to and from class. I have had to adjust to early wake up calls, dressing up and being called Ms. O'Keefe. Even though I know we are adults this is all pretty new to me.

Some of my happiest moments this month have been catching a quick cup of coffee with a fellow St. Martins volunteer early in the morning, sitting up late talking with a roommate, or giving a student advice about the college application process. I'd say that my volunteer year has started off to a good start. :)