Student perspective: The May Book Project ‘truly meant everything to me’
By Cassie Sun | Contributor
It sounds dramatic, but there are few things I love more than planning. I have a special place in my heart for google calendar, and I could honestly write a love letter for the reminders app.
This trip was not on my planner. Honestly, it was scheduled during one of my busiest weeks in the entire school year—with 4 AP tests back-to-back, I didn’t think it was physically possible to make it to D.C. and back in 2 days.
But there’s something so special about being there in person with the kids during a book drop. It’s such an incredible experience—one that I truly wanted to be a part of—and I’m so glad I was.
I landed Wednesday night, and on Thursday morning (5/4), we all headed over to the library of Barcroft Elementary. From the kind librarians greeting us at the door to the adorable set up of diverse books set up around the library, it was so heartwarming to see so much support for the May Book Project.
Even cuter were the kids, who filed in smiling big grins and giving us high-fives. I’m completely clueless about sports, but Ananya got to meet (and freak out over) Talati Polamalu, and we all took many photos.
In the corner of the library, all the kids sat down quietly, and Ananya and I read Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho. It was a beautiful children’s book about all the history and stories each of our eyes carries, and the kids loved it!
Rose Bakewell was kind enough to give us both a beautifully put-together box of scones which Ananya and I ate with our family at a Starbucks before visiting the next school (Rose later was horrified that we ate the scones without warming them up first, but they were delicious either way).
At the next school, Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary, the kids were equally adorable and enjoyed the books Ananya and I read just as much. After a few rounds of passing out some of the brand-new books we delivered for the kids to take a look at, I had the incredible opportunity of speaking with Chris Nguyen from CNN!
As someone who plans to study journalism and enter the field myself, it was fascinating to see how a professional news network sets up an interview, from putting together lighting and sound to Chris’ sincere questions about the May Book Project.
As I told Chris, it truly meant everything to me to be able to be delivering such important books to kids whose childhood will be forever impacted. So much of my perceptions of the world and who I am as a person is shaped by the literature I grew up reading and had access to, and I think little Cassie would be proud to see the difference the May Book Project will make in the lives of these children now.
Editor’s note: Cassie Sun is a St. Louis-based high school graduate who served as a May Book Project ambassador her senior year. She will be attending Northwestern University in the fall. Watch the student perspectives video here. Avalon Bay helped sponsor the book donation in Arlington.
Read more about The May Book Project here.
