On November 2, 2025, volunteers from the AYLUS Roslyn Branch worked as TAs at the Chinese Cultural Association of Long Island (CCALI) from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.. At this time, they assisted teachers, students, and parents with a variety of school activities, ranging from arts and language to martial arts. They made a meaningful contribution to this diverse group of students and learnt various instructional skills along the way.
Throughout the day, our primary concern was the safety of the kids. We began by greeting the children and their parents and then settling everyone in. After everyone arrived, we worked to ensure a productive environment by helping struggling students, checking homework, distributing papers, and so on. We ensured the students’ needs were met, whether it be accompanying them to the restroom or simply helping to sharpen a pencil, and it was through juggling these responsibilities that we learnt to be proactive.
For the last hour of instruction, the students switched to their usual cultural classes. It was now that far more action took place, especially in the Taekwondo classroom. We helped the kids show off their creativity through Arts and Crafts, Yoga, Calligraphy, and even Dance. While these classes are designed for the students, we also find ourselves learning from their creativity and individual perspectives. Finally, as the day neared 5 p.m., we helped students pack their belongings, ensuring nothing was forgotten, and escorted them back to their guardians. After everyone left, we took the time to clean and organize the classroom, ensuring we left it in better condition than when we found it.
Looking back, this experience taught us to see things in a different perspective, testing our patience, empathy and overall conflict resolution skills. As TAs, we had to lead by example, showcasing a kind, hardworking image for the students to follow. We can’t wait to help these students again!
Members who volunteered: Sofia Chen (3.5 hours), Jasmine Lin (3.5 hours), Lyann Lin (3.5 hours), Kayden Cheng (3.5 hours), Joanna Huang (3.5 hours), Ethan Liu (3.5 hours), Shinree Zhang (3.5 hours), Jenny Chen (3.5 hours), Henry Li (3.5 hours), Chloe Liu (3.5 hours)
Reporter: Henry Li
