"Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one"

It's hard not to contemplate these lyrics as I sit in my cubicle at King Library. It's currently thunder-storming outside, I have a cup of coffee in hand, and I'm researching/writing about humanitarian interventions, postwar peace building initiatives, and the like. These are the kinds of lyrics that will be remembered for years. Just as these conflicts will be. John Lennon writes "Imagine" in 1971, just around the time that civil war was heating up in El Salvador, and many other countries around the world.

This is the new year.

The 2012-2013 HLCS team power greeting one September morning.

"Another year you made a promise another chance to turn it all around and do not save this for tomorow embrace the past and you can live for now and I will give the world to you Speak louder that the words before you and give them meaning no one else has found The role we play is so important we are the voices of the underground and I would give the world to you" 

--Ian Axel, "This Is The New Year" 

It's incredible how well this song relates to my decision to come back to serve with City Year Milwaukee one more year. I love it. And am glad to have a go-to song to remind me of my service and why I'm here when the perspective and sleep start to get lost. 

 I am so, so happy with my team thus far this year. They've gelled so well already, and have jumped right in to morning greeting, tutoring, and after school. I love it. While I feel like I have a ton of work to do day-to-day, I know I would have a ton more if they weren't already really awesome. 

 Additionally, I got some wonderful news today. DH, one of my ELA boys from last year, just got his reading test scores back and got a 215. Proficient for SOY 7th graders is 213, which means he's too good to work with CY! I'm so so so unbelievably proud of him. This was the same kid who would jump up in class for no reason, and then when called out on it, not even know why he got up. He just had a ton of energy. He also came to ASP one day, DEMANDING I tell him what really happened to the Titanic. He said, "MS. MARY. I HAVE to know what REALLY happened to the Titanic. I saw the movie, but I just don't believe it. Can I PLEEEEEASE get on the internet or get an encyclopedia to find out?!?!!?" It will always be one of my favorite memories. 

 And now my CMs get to #makebetterhappen for 48 targeted reading students, and many many more. This year will fly by, and it will be hard, but it will be great. I can already tell.