Aim High at the Giants' Game

Trafton B.

July 29, 2010 - 6:45 PM

Earlier today, the Aim High Redwood City staff and student body took a day off and hopped a train into San Francisco to watch the Giants play the Florida Marlins.

It was a gorgeous day in the city. Not a cloud in the sky. We could see clear across the Bay while we sat in Seals Plaza near the marina behind center field for lunch. I love these days because, as with the field trip, we can see the kids for who they actually are, not just as students sitting at a desk raising their hands to ask questions. These are the days when we have to appreciate community over education.

Inside the stadium, after habitually grabbing a Louisiana hot link and garlic fries, we headed up to our seats in the upper deck. After climbing up miles of bleachers, ramps and stairs we finally arrived to our $5.75 seats in View Reserve Section 336 in time for the first pitch. All the students complained (what else is new) that they couldn't see the action but, hey, what else can you do with over eighty kids! They barely watched the game anyway. Today was just an excuse to listen to their iPods, flirt with each other and gorge themselves on cotton candy and Ghirardelli ice cream sundaes.

Personally, I really enjoyed the seats. First of all, they were tucked under the overhang enough that we were in the shade for most of the day. And second, I couldn't help but laugh at how high up we were. My co-workers and I made jokes that we could almost see our campus 25 miles away in Redwood City. Our seats were actually higher than the foul pole. At one point, a pigeon flew down to perch on the top of the pole. It was hilarious!

Our group had to leave in the sixth inning to catch the 2:39PM train back to Redwood City. Sadly we had to have the kids back by 3:30, but considering the way the game was going I wasn't that disappointed. By the time we left, the Giants' were trailing 3-0 and being two-hit by Marlin's pitcher, Anibal Sánchez. We found out on the train ride back that we ended up losing 5-0. Tough luck, but even the best teams in the league lose sixty games a year.

The train ride back was amazing. At least compared to last year's ride that is. Last summer we did the same thing, taking the train into the city for the game. Last year, however, our students were a little more chaotic. All that sugar from the cotton candy started rushing through their veins. Add eighty loud kids to a train car that acts like an echo chamber and you end up with a lot of teachers with splitting headaches. This time around we apparently spread the students across the train enough so that no single group could manage to be too noisy. And, yes, we did get everyone back on time.

This is a bittersweet post for me because this will be the last post about Aim High for the summer. Tomorrow is the last day of school, and tomorrow night is Celebration Night. I look forward to relaxing for at least a few days before heading back up to Oregon for the rest of the summer, but I'll be sad to say goodbye to all the students.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, Aim High is a really special program. My job title says Teaching Intern, but I swear that I learn just as much from these students as they learn from me. Ask any teacher, we have just as much fun as the students. Sure it's hard work, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

With that said, I'd like to give my final shout out to Aim High Redwood City. Thanks for another incredible summer. Best of luck during the school year and I hope to see you all next June. Take care.