I am going to take a step back from my usual blog posts about my professional life and write for a moment about my personal life (although still very education-related). When I’m not at school, one of my favorite things to do is to hang out with a special group of kiddos (I’ve written about them on my blog before). These kids & their families have come to the USA as refugees, facing many challenges that are so different from my own life. This weekend, we’re celebrating two girls who are graduating from high school – one is the first in her family, and one is the second (she has an older sibling).

Congratulations, graduates!

When I first met these two, they were in elementary school. We have spent many hours together – from our weekly library homework club (which has been going on for nearly ten years now) to parties to sleepovers and more!

“Family” goes beyond flesh and blood.

I may be the homework helper, but in return, they have welcomed me into their families. At times, it comes with a bit of discomfort. I don’t know what kind of food I expected at their graduation parties, but I have to admit, it caught me a little off-guard when I walked in and saw all of this.

Shrimp – bon appetit!

Squid? Octopus? Something like that…

The full dining experience!

And while I don’t know if I can say that I enjoy discomfort, I think it is such a good thing for me to experience. It is a reminder of what many kids feel every day when they come to school, to a world where they look different, sound different, and feel different than their peers. It’s a reminder that my “normal” is not everyone’s “normal” – and mine is not better than anyone else’s. It is a reminder that we all have so much to learn from each other, but it takes intentionality and courage to step into a space that is outside of your comfort zone and meet each other there.

Just reach out – like our two first graders walking to the park today!

When is the last time you were intentionally uncomfortable? What did you learn?