Our group’s last day at the detention center was bittersweet, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity. When we went to the center, I was nervous and a little sad that it was ending. When we arrived, we got to bring our snacks as per usual, and the kids that we met with seemed very excited to be given chips. We put the chairs in a large circle like we usually do, but this time there were only boys who agreed to meet with us. I noticed that the girl I met with the previous two weeks was no longer at the center, and I remember how she told me that she was likely getting sent to an in-patient mental health center. Weirdly, I felt a little sad that I didn’t get to see her or say goodbye. It made me think of the way that Coogan must have felt when the men he talked to came and went.

The boy I paired with this week was younger, he was about 14. His story broke my heart. He explained how he had been at the center since he was 10 when he was charged with selling guns. He told me that he would be at the center until (at the very earliest) his 16th birthday. It really stuck with me. He also got emotional telling me that he hadn’t seen his baby sister since he was arrested. After we left the center, I became a little teary-eyed while telling my classmates about it.

 

Again, I want to stress how much I’ve loved this experience and I’m happy that I stuck with the class.