by Summer Utrup,
North American Martyrs School, Lincoln
“I loved meeting you and I love your smile. It makes me smile!” said one of my second-graders to her pen pal. For the last three years, my second-grade class at North American Martyrs School in Lincoln has been pen pals with residents at Pemberly Place Senior Living Community.
A friend of mine and teaching companion, Judy Andersen, works as the Life Enrichment Assistant at Pemberly Place. She plans and coordinates activities to fill the residents’ days with community and fun. Prior to working at Pemberly, she taught third grade at North American Martyrs and, before that, kindergarten at St. Mary School in Lincoln. Judy truly was a master at her craft as a teacher! When she took the job at Pemberly, I knew the residents would be as lucky as her students had been to be under her care.
Writing is a subject in school that some students love. Other students squirm with disgust at the thought of having to grab a pencil and write multiple sentences. At the beginning of each school year, I teach my students how to write a friendly letter. We practice writing notes to loved ones and friends, while talking about the importance of writing skills in the process. One day, while catching up with each other, Judy and I came up with a plan for her residents at Pemberly to be pen pals with my second-grade students.
It wasn’t until after we started this project that I realized how fruitful it was for everyone involved. Both the residents and students enjoyed hearing from each other. The residents were able to tell the second-graders about what life was like when they were young, and they shared about their families. One pen pal was a talented artist and sent his pen pal a drawing of a horse. When the second-grader receiving it opened it up, I saw him smile and turn to show his peers.
My students became invested in knowing more about their pen pals. I watched their faces light up when they received their letters back. Even better, every last one of them was excited to write back!
We were able to exchange letters throughout the year, sending holiday greetings to each other for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter. The letters were as valuable to the second-graders as they were to the residents. The students jumped on any opportunity to bring light to the residents through the simplest of ways, like making a Valentine or Christmas card.
In 2022, Judy and I decided the connections made during the pen pal activity were so genuine that we wanted to give them the opportunity to meet the person behind the pen and paper.
Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” As I watch my second-graders meet their pen pals each year, I am humbled by their pure hearts and ability to embrace a stranger with authentic joy. Even the most shy students chat away with the person who they have come to know through letters. This encounter may not appear as something grand or big, but it is a small thing done with great love.
During our short visit at Pemberly, the students are given time to talk more with their pen pals in person. This is one of my favorite experiences to share with my students each year! I get choked up with emotions of pride and love for my students. I am in awe of their ability to sit down with someone they have never met, a task that I would argue some adults would struggle to do. They don’t realize how much joy and light they bring to the residents, some of whom may not see young people very often.
I want to note that the credit for this eventful meeting of students and residents should be given to Judy. She preps and leads the activities for the day. After an ample amount of time to chat, we begin our bingo game. It is fun to see students helping residents, and vice versa. They root for each other while playing the whole game, smiling from ear to ear. Next, students take their pen pals’ orders for ice cream sundaes and serve the residents first, then themselves.
As goodbye approaches, it’s hard to bear the news that we must go. Each pair says goodbye and parent volunteers, students, residents, Judy and I smile from the splendor of the day.
As a teacher, I have the responsibility and opportunity to teach my students many subjects each day. I enjoy watching light bulbs go off and seeing the success of my students academically! I love to watch their writing skills develop while they enjoy making connections with pen pals. The greatest lesson of it all is to take time to build genuine relationships and spend quality time with others!
Courtesy photos
