Donald McKay kids at Rock Spot Climbing Gym
Please tell me this is a dream? Please tell me that press 1 for "yes" and 2 for "no" is not my new reality?
Please tell me that there is no worse job in the world than a customer service representative?
And explain to me why today, April 7, 2015, ever single dealing I have with a company no matter how large or small, no matter the issue or problem, no matter the question or concern results in a very 'intimate' chat with a computer asking me to press the number 1 for totally dissatisfied and 5 for very satisfied.
Suddenly this seems to be the sum of my days and weeks and if you recall my last blog of over a month ago, when one thing breaks everything seems to follow. I could put this another way but I will keep it polite.
So to break the monotony of customer service hell I left my little office and went to see my fourth graders at the Donald McKay School. Nothing will pull you out of a funk better than 25 kids. Last week I was actually with the entire fourth grade and we went on a field trip to an indoor climbing wall.
Sounds harmless enough.
Had to take three different subway lines.
Over 65 nine and ten year olds.
It was epic.
I was a wreck.
Did not lose a single child, parent or teacher.
Did I tell you I was a wreck?
The climbing gym was awesome! The guys 'guiding' the kids were the best, handling this gang of fourth graders with a whole lot of humor and patience. I lost mine on the blue line train an hour earlier.
I watched as the kids were separated into several groups and learned how to handle ropes, harnesses, caribeaners and climbing. I saw so many personality traits exhibited on those climbing walls. There was the thoughtful climber who evaluated every hand hold and step. The 'full steam ahead' clambering up walls with 5.11 (that's a high degree of difficulty) rating with little regard of what to actually do once they were a few feet off the ground. I have to give them credit for even trying.
But the best and by far a very concrete observation was watching the kids who are educationally or emotionally challenged climb. Kids who normally have a hard time staying focused would just not give up or give in. Time after time they struggled with the climb; falling off or sliding down only to approach the wall again and again until they had mastered it. Kids who in school have such a tough time in a classroom were the true "rock" stars. It was amazing and demonstrated to me that these kids really do learn differently but given the right medium can be a success and champion.
I got to witness these kids in a magical moment of perseverance and success. Stuff like that doesn't happen often enough.
I'd rate the day and moment a 5! I was completely satisfied.
It just doesn't get any better than that.
Climb On!
- Wendy
