Pedío Áreos

10) What kind of influence did this trip have on you as a leader?

During our third day of service work, we changed it up and instead of working at the art gallery we went to a park in Athens and had a picnic. Our picnic was prepared by the French students that had been helping the director of the gallery, Kyra (I think this is how you spell it). This picnic wasn’t just for fun but we were there to help take care of the refugees’ children that we had be helping at the gallery. At the art gallery I had spent my time helping with construction, and had avoided the refugees simply because I was scared and lack confidence working with kids (especially since we don’t speak each other’s language). But at the picnic I didn’t have the construction as an escape. There were more of us than there were refugees so I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to interact with them, but Cierra introduced me to this little girl that was probably only 7-8, and she stuck to me, would t leave my side all afternoon. We played tag at first and had some fun but then she wanted me to pick her up so I did. I let her guide me where she wanted to go and she took me to the nearby flowers. She was wanting to pick them so I helped her. She would then lead me around to the nearby ladies and we gave them the flowers. We went back and picked more and handed them out. We did this over and over and it felt like a hundred trips by the time we had to leave. She was kind to everyone and she trusted me. She was not scared to give to these strangers she had never known. This whole time I had been scared to work with these kids, but helping her share kindness to everyone at the picnic was by far the best part of my time in Greece. She helped me grow, she showed me that kindness takes confidence, that language doesn’t stop how we treat each other, that leaders need not be afraid of the unknown.Read more