Her entire body is shaking.  It soon becomes clear that this young woman’s shaking is in stark contrast to the normally lucid movements that typify her ghost-like behavior.  Until now it was almost easy not to even notice her.  But the shaking is in obvious response to the 35 feet she has just put between herself and the ground by climbing the platform to the leap of faith on the ropes course. 

There are tons of shouts of encouragement coming from the ground, below; from youth and mentors alike…but in her mind, all that she can hear is the screaming of the little voice in her head telling her that she needs to stop doing this RIGHT NOW! 

And then something switches.  You can almost see it happen, as she begins to force her thoughts into the background.  She takes one step forward, and then another; to the edge of the platform.  Then, in a voice never heard before she shouts loud and clear, “My name is Saprea, and I am jumping for my goal in life to graduate high school, go to college and become a doctor!”

Without hesitation she rears back and leaps from the platform, agile as a leopard.  While mid-air all that is present is the determination of an Olympic athlete; reaching for the trapeze laid out 8 feet in front of her.  It all happens so quickly.  She misses the trapeze, and the rope goes taut as gravity takes hold.  But as she is lowered to the ground, her grin says it all; “I am a new woman...and I will never forget that anything is possible!”

Saprea’s story is just a small representation of the dozens of miraculous breakthroughs that happened during this month’s Launch Course for George Washington High School (GW6).  GW6 just launched as a new program and we are excited to have 36 brand-new mentor/youth pairs off and running on their year together.  Bon Voyage...GW6. 

Drew DeMarie

Program Manager