Operation Shoestring

Operation Shoestring was founded in 1968 to help break the racial tension that was going on in Jackson, Mississippi. It is an year-round academic and social support program for elementary through high school students to ensure educational success that also provides resources to families. Their staff is filled with certified teachers, volunteers, and community partners to ensure the success and emotional support to each child in their program. People from all over central Mississippi come to this sight and work with the students. Some come and donate food, some come to sing songs, while others may just stop by to donate clothing. Star Pool, coordinator of Operation Shoestring, stated “ Our mission is investing in the hearts and minds of our
children and their families to promote health and self-sufficiency, and faithfully extending the hand of hope and opportunity to empower the needy, uplift our target neighborhoods and the larger community, and brighten the future for us all.”
During my time at this facility I was considered a camp counselor for a second grade class of seventeen students.
We played adding and subtracting games with blocks to improve math skills, wrote stories about different topics to improve reading and writing skills, built volcanoes to improve science skills, and arts and crafts. I came up with each activity on my own to accomplish the goal of creating a fun, yet educational learning environment for the students. At the end of the day other counselors and myself brought the students together for enrichment, a time for the children to let loose and be themselves. That was a time for the kids to dance, play sports, or just sit around and nap that was their time to rule the building. Outside of the site the students went on field trips that allowed them to be kids. The most memorable trip that was taking was our tip to Old Mississippi State Capitol where we learned about the history of our
state. The best thing to give a child is love. This is the most important thing I learned while working with children at Operation Shoestring. No matter how difficult children can be at times all you have to do is show them that you are here for them and give them love and affection. I use to always think that kids were just terrible little creatures, but working with them made me see how wrong I really was. Some of the children in my class did not receive the love and affection at home that I got growing up, and the lack of love made them act out. It hurt my heart seeing kids that young bottle up so much anger and hurt from the lack of love. I personally have never been in a environment with so much hurt. I had to show those children in a short period of time how to over shadow their hate with love. When the children noticed that my way of “punishing” was through love they started to act out less and less. Love covers a multitude of sins, and working with Operation Shoestring proved that. The most important thing about service is knowing that you are helping others.
You are not only helping someone in areas where they can’t necessarily help themselves, but also helping yourself. You are gaining character and leadership skills to better your future career, There are many issues in the community that a simple act of service can help. Volunteering is also very valuable when it comes to entering college. It shows colleges that the applicant is bringing something to their campus and they are ready to go above and beyond to succeed and accomplish goals inside the classroom. It can also impress admission officers when trying to enroll in graduate school. Once out of college volunteering can demonstrate to future employers that you have a dedications for your community and would have the same for your
job. Working with the children at Operation Shoestring made me realize how important love is in this world. No matter how young or old a person is they still need love of survive. Since then I have now tried to be more friendly towards the people I know and don’t know. I had to realize that not everyone comes from such a loving environment as I did, and I can be the person to show them love they need. I have began to appreciate the home I come from, and the love I receive from friends and teachers.