Bon Air Finale

This past trip to Bon Air was beyond fun! We started in partners and gathered their stories for our project. My partner didn’t know what to write about so I suggested he write about something like his best day. He said he had a lot of good days, but never a best day. I asked him why, and he said “because my best days are still ahead of me.” So instead he wrote and illustrated a story about his future best day ever. What struck me is how simple it is. All he really wants is to have his own little family and drive to work with hot coffee in his hand.

My partner dropped a lot of wisdom this week. I asked what he would change once he got out in order to avoid ending up back at Bon Air again, and he said he would get better friends and influences. He said he’s learned a lot since being at Bon Air and he’s counting it all as part of his childhood. Now he considers himself a man. He’s not necessarily grateful to be locked up but he’s thankful that going to Bon Air taught him these valuable life lessons earlier in life rather than later when it might have been too late. He also said he wants to be a good example for his little sister. I told him how I secretly look up to my older brother and he said he knows she looks up to him too since she’ll do little things like copy what brand of shoes he buys. Because of this, he really wants to be someone she should want to be like.

Once we regrouped, a wild dance party ensued! It was pure awesome! I never wanted this visit to end, but if since it had to, I couldn’t have chosen a better way for it to. I’m so thankful that we got to know these guys that we never would have otherwise. This was an amazing opportunity that I will remember for the rest of my life.