Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Jillian C. named Kids Creative's 2011 Urban Hero

Congratulations to Jillian C. for being named
Kids Creative's 2011 Urban Hero with the Catalog for Giving.

What being an urban hero means to me?

by Jillian C.

My definition of an Urban Hero is someone who, no matter what, always does the best they can. They never let anyone get in their way. He/She works hard in school and is always helpful with other students and teachers. He/She cares for their parents and brothers and sisters, always trying to make them proud.

I am happy to be chosen as an Urban Hero by Kids Creative, because to me they are good people. Kids Creative shows kids like me that anything is possible and that it doesn't matter if your parents are together, where you live, or how much money your family has. The teachers at Kids Creative show me that hard work will get me to that middle school or high school or even a college scholarship to any college I want.

I am proud to be chosen by Kids Creative because now people can see everything I've done so far and know that they can do it too!

Bio

Jillian was born in New York City in May of 2000. She is now 11 years old and very much older than her years. She is the third of five children born to Omilania Buckine & Jose Crespo. She lives with her mother and siblings in New York City Housing. Although her parents are not together she has a great relationship with both. She attended PS 191 elementary school.

Since Kindergarten she has attended the Kids Creative Afterschool Program, along with her four siblings. She had such a great experience while in the program. She got over her shyness and began to utilize the social skills she learned from the interaction with the students and staff members in her everyday life. She began to use her imagination in her writing and use different vocal expressions when reading aloud. At the end of her 3rd Grade year she began to attend the summer program and realized that she has a nice singing voice and a passion for dramatic acting. Now that she has graduated from PS 191 she will be attending 6th grade at Mott Hall II, Middle School.

She loves to volunteer her time reading to small children, usually her younger sister and friends during play dates. At Kids Creative, she has chosen on many occasions to help with the younger campers during their creative time reading and singing. She has shown a desire to teach, to share what she has learned with other children whether it be homework help or reading to them in order to help the adults around her get other things done. She is very helpful in all areas of her daily life, constantly assessing the needs of those around her and how best to help.

Jillian would like to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and go to Columbia University's Teachers College. She wants to teach literacy to those who have trouble reading. She has seen how embarrassed children get when reading allowed in class or how hard a time they have when taking exams and she wants to be someone who helps to change how many kids live with this issue.