By Allie Friedman - Deputy Director Buffalo ReformED:
"We had an electrical fire at my house," Quintarah said. "I lost mostly all of my clothes, my bed, my sneakers, and some of my school uniforms. I'm just happy my dogs made it out ok."
Quintarah, a freshman at Health Sciences Charter School in Buffalo, NY, has endured tragedy that no child should ever have to endure. Her family recently lost their home and everything but the clothes on their backs to an electrical fire. Although her cousin and her dogs (two pitbulls named Cha Cha and Morocco) were home during the explosion, all were fortunate enough to escape the flames and her cousins managed to call the police. When Quintarah arrived at the scene of the disaster, she tip toed through the wreckage she once called home. "I went into the house," she said. "Everything was dark because the electricity had been cut off. The windows were torn out and the firemen tore down half the wall." Quintarah found herself in her room, now black with ashes covering her lifelong possessions, sobbing on the floor. "My aunt and my brother had to pick me up," she said.
You may think, how does someone pick herself up and start over after losing everything? How does a mother take care of two daughters, four sons, and two dogs after something like that? How do you maintain the poise and composure to tell your children that everything will be alright? How does a child find a way to see the beauty in the world after seeing such darkness?
The day after the fire, Quintarah's mother called the school, explaining what happened. Despite tragedy and difficulty, Quintarah was back in school the next day. Katie Welnowski, the guidance counselor at Health Sciences, told me how shocked Quintarah's mother was with the schools desire to help. Mrs. Welnowski's response was, "This is what we're here for." She told Quintarah's mother to take care of her family and the school would take care of the rest.
At this point, Mrs. Welnowski rallied the teachers, administrators, staff, partners, and the board of trustees. The entire school community was eager and willing to help. That night, Mrs. Welnowski spent the evening putting together a care package for Quintarah full of necessary items, including clothes. In addition, Health Sciences board members donated school uniforms to the family. Another board member gave Quintarah's family gift cards, so that they could purchase food for Thanksgiving. "They're giving us Christmas," Quintarah excitedly said. Mrs. Welnowski said Quintarah's family could not have been more grateful. "Her [Quintarah's mother] eyes filled with tears as we gave them the items." Mrs. Welnowski said.
I asked Quintarah, "How do you handle something [a fire] like that?" She said, "I go to church a lot. I'm waiting and praying to God that he won't let it happen again. I know he will stand over me through thick and thin." The courage inside this girl is inspiring and powerful. To lose everything and still be able to see the good in life is a rare gift to possess.
Quintarah told me that she loves her school, her teachers and her friends. "I love being somewhere where everyone supports me." Quintarah explained. "When I have stressful days I can come to Mrs. Welnowski and release my stress." As a young freshman, she already has college on her mind, debating between the University of Buffalo, Penn State, D'Youville College, and Damon College. When I asked her what she wants to be when she grows up, she told me, "A social worker, an ER Doctor or a lawyer." I asked her what made her want to pursue these career opportunities. Quintarah said, "I want to help people in bad conditions."
I admire this young woman whose favorite thing to do is smile and come to school with a happy face, who loves the color blue and loves to draw and read mysteries, who likes baseball and volleyball, who is shy but funny and talkative when she's comfortable, who sometimes has crazy hair days and loves colorful socks, whose favorite number is 23 and who prefers Christmas to Halloween, who loves Buffalo, but hates the cold weather, who can forgive the world for the unfair and find security in her faith, who when struck with the unfathomable, simply cared if her dogs were alright, and who undeniably embodies a profile of courage.
I also admire Health Sciences Charter School, a place where teachers are caretakers, protectors, and advisors, where the community feels more like a family than an institution, and a place where children learn, not only how to be good students, but great people.
I'm sure Quintarah will encounter more bumps and bruises along her way to adulthood. She will most likely have to face difficult challenges and decisions. However, I can see that she has a number of fans and people who support her, many of whom are inside Health Sciences Charter School. I hope each one of them knows the difference they're making in Quintarah's life. Garrison Keillor said, "Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted." Health Sciences is doing so much for so many children. Although, those inside the school would simply say they're doing they're jobs, I argue that they're doing so much more.
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"We had an electrical fire at my house," Quintarah said. "I lost mostly all of my clothes, my bed, my sneakers, and some of my school uniforms. I'm just happy my dogs made it out ok."
Quintarah, a freshman at Health Sciences Charter School in Buffalo, NY, has endured tragedy that no child should ever have to endure. Her family recently lost their home and everything but the clothes on their backs to an electrical fire. Although her cousin and her dogs (two pitbulls named Cha Cha and Morocco) were home during the explosion, all were fortunate enough to escape the flames and her cousins managed to call the police. When Quintarah arrived at the scene of the disaster, she tip toed through the wreckage she once called home. "I went into the house," she said. "Everything was dark because the electricity had been cut off. The windows were torn out and the firemen tore down half the wall." Quintarah found herself in her room, now black with ashes covering her lifelong possessions, sobbing on the floor. "My aunt and my brother had to pick me up," she said.
You may think, how does someone pick herself up and start over after losing everything? How does a mother take care of two daughters, four sons, and two dogs after something like that? How do you maintain the poise and composure to tell your children that everything will be alright? How does a child find a way to see the beauty in the world after seeing such darkness?
The day after the fire, Quintarah's mother called the school, explaining what happened. Despite tragedy and difficulty, Quintarah was back in school the next day. Katie Welnowski, the guidance counselor at Health Sciences, told me how shocked Quintarah's mother was with the schools desire to help. Mrs. Welnowski's response was, "This is what we're here for." She told Quintarah's mother to take care of her family and the school would take care of the rest.
At this point, Mrs. Welnowski rallied the teachers, administrators, staff, partners, and the board of trustees. The entire school community was eager and willing to help. That night, Mrs. Welnowski spent the evening putting together a care package for Quintarah full of necessary items, including clothes. In addition, Health Sciences board members donated school uniforms to the family. Another board member gave Quintarah's family gift cards, so that they could purchase food for Thanksgiving. "They're giving us Christmas," Quintarah excitedly said. Mrs. Welnowski said Quintarah's family could not have been more grateful. "Her [Quintarah's mother] eyes filled with tears as we gave them the items." Mrs. Welnowski said.
I asked Quintarah, "How do you handle something [a fire] like that?" She said, "I go to church a lot. I'm waiting and praying to God that he won't let it happen again. I know he will stand over me through thick and thin." The courage inside this girl is inspiring and powerful. To lose everything and still be able to see the good in life is a rare gift to possess.
Quintarah told me that she loves her school, her teachers and her friends. "I love being somewhere where everyone supports me." Quintarah explained. "When I have stressful days I can come to Mrs. Welnowski and release my stress." As a young freshman, she already has college on her mind, debating between the University of Buffalo, Penn State, D'Youville College, and Damon College. When I asked her what she wants to be when she grows up, she told me, "A social worker, an ER Doctor or a lawyer." I asked her what made her want to pursue these career opportunities. Quintarah said, "I want to help people in bad conditions."
I admire this young woman whose favorite thing to do is smile and come to school with a happy face, who loves the color blue and loves to draw and read mysteries, who likes baseball and volleyball, who is shy but funny and talkative when she's comfortable, who sometimes has crazy hair days and loves colorful socks, whose favorite number is 23 and who prefers Christmas to Halloween, who loves Buffalo, but hates the cold weather, who can forgive the world for the unfair and find security in her faith, who when struck with the unfathomable, simply cared if her dogs were alright, and who undeniably embodies a profile of courage.
I also admire Health Sciences Charter School, a place where teachers are caretakers, protectors, and advisors, where the community feels more like a family than an institution, and a place where children learn, not only how to be good students, but great people.
I'm sure Quintarah will encounter more bumps and bruises along her way to adulthood. She will most likely have to face difficult challenges and decisions. However, I can see that she has a number of fans and people who support her, many of whom are inside Health Sciences Charter School. I hope each one of them knows the difference they're making in Quintarah's life. Garrison Keillor said, "Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted." Health Sciences is doing so much for so many children. Although, those inside the school would simply say they're doing they're jobs, I argue that they're doing so much more.
I believe in Charter Schools and the full spectrum of education they provide. In this case, the school became the community, which is something that has been lacking for some time.
Inspirational? Absolutely. Now, to spread it around...