Maria Barraza

This day during volunteering, I was back with the teens! For "What's Cooking Wednesday" we made our own mini pizzas. The teens rolled out their dough and got to choose their toppings. While we waited for the pizzas to be done in the oven, the teens sat patiently, and we just chatted about our days. Once the pizzas were done, we all enjoyed them! They turned out pretty well and the teens seemed to like making them! Afterwards, since there were a few teens left they all played with the tablets. Overall, this day was very fun and more of a relaxing day!

Yesterday’s volunteering experience with the middles was a really slower paced and enjoyable day. In the beginning some of the staff and I heated up pizza from dominos which the kids had for snack time. Everyone got to have juice and fruit along with it, which the kids absolutely loved. After snack, we spent some time outside where a few of the kids played football, and other played on the playground. Since many of the kids went home earlier than usual, we ended up with a smaller group toward the end of the day, which made things feel more relaxed. We headed to the gym next and played different hula hoop games before transitioning into free play. During free play, I joined two of the middles in a ball game they were trying to teach me. I kept messing up, but we all laughed about it, and it made the game even more fun. Overall, it was a great day!

Today was such a fun day volunteering with the teens again. We got to make ice cream from scratch, and I could really see how much they enjoyed it. Everyone made their own by mixing heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract, then sealing it in a bag with ice and salt to freeze it. We massaged the bags for about 15 minutes until it turned into ice cream and then added our favorite toppings. The teens said it was their favorite thing they’ve made so far, which made me so happy to hear. Afterward, we headed to the gym and ended the day playing volleyball together. I also felt really touched when some of them told me they enjoyed having me there with them, because I also enjoy spending time with them!

Today was a really fun day volunteering! I got to work with the teens for the first time, and I really enjoyed getting to know them. After snack time, we started an activity where everyone decorated cups in preparation for making smoothies. Before heading to the kitchen, the teens were given a word problem about measurements, where they had to figure out how much of each ingredient would be needed to serve a certain number of people. I really liked how this tied learning into something hands on, it made the activity more fun and practical. Then we all went to the kitchen, and each teen got a turn to measure their ingredients and blend their own mango and pineapple smoothies, which turned out delicious! At the end of the day, the teens continued more activities in the computer lab. What I took away from today is how valuable it is to make learning interactive and enjoyable, and how small activities like this can build both confidence and teamwork among the teens!

Today was such a fun and rewarding day! We started with a game of Fort Dodgeball, where the kids worked together to build forts and then played dodgeball trying to knock each other’s forts down without getting out. It was great to see how much teamwork and strategy they used during the game. After that, we played Sharks, where everyone had to run across the court without getting tagged by the “sharks” in the middle. The kids were full of energy, and it was great seeing how engaged they were in every activity. During free play, I sat with a group of kids and played with Play-Doh, which ended up being my favorite part of the day. It gave me the chance to slow down, talk to them about their day, and get to know their personalities better. I learned how important it is to create moments of connection like that where the kids can express themselves and feel heard. The kids at the YRCC are so creative, kind, and full of imagination, and it was really meaningful to see how comfortable they’ve become with me!

This was a very fun day volunteering at the YRCC! After greeting everyone from school and waiting for them to finish their snacks, we started several games that the kids really enjoyed. The kids were very competitive, and I loved seeing their enthusiasm and energy throughout the activities. One game involved the kids being split into teams lined up behind a hula hoop. Each person had to roll the hula hoop to the opposite end, go around a cone, and then bring it back for the next teammate. They also played a version of musical chairs, but instead of chairs, hula hoops were placed on the ground, and kids had to stand inside them when the music stopped. After the games, the kids enjoyed some free play time, including coloring and building with Legos. From this experience, I learned how important it is to encourage teamwork and make sure everyone feels included and excited to participate. I also noticed that doing physical activities helps the kids build social skills and work together better!

On Wednesday, September 17th, 2025, I had my first official day volunteering for the YRCC. I was paired with the middles group, and it was a great opportunity to introduce myself and meet the kids. It was really nice to listen to them talk about their day at school and to start warming up to each other. Since Wednesdays are “Workout Wednesdays,” the kids participated in an activity together. That day, we played dodgeball, where everyone was split into teams to compete. After playing a few rounds, we transitioned to free play. Some kids played basketball, while others tried a game that was new to me, where you’re inside an inflatable circle and hit a ball to tag someone out. It was wonderful to finally meet the kids and get a feel for what the rest of my semester volunteering will be like. From this experience, I realize how important it is to build trust and connection with the children, which will help create a positive and supportive environment for them. I also look forward to learning how to better communicate and engage with them!