The Significance of Time
Friends,
I’ve been very reflective over the last few months. It’s been nearly two and a half years since I first started at Traffick911, and if you had told me then about the significance of summer and what it means for the boys and girls that we get to serve, I don’t think I would have fully grasped it. When I think about summer, I think back to my childhood. I think about riding my bike through the neighborhood with my friends, spending the day at the pool, going to the lake, or an all-weekend soccer tournament. There was freedom in the summertime. The days were long, and the possibilities were endless. There was time—time for anything and time for nothing. Without having to wake up for school, I could sleep in or stay up late. The slower pace allowed for spontaneity. Looking back, some of my favorite memories were during the summer.
As I reflect on my time as an advocate, some of my favorite memories with my clients have happened during the summer. And what I’ve noticed is that it’s really just about time.
There is significance in time and showing up consistently. That’s what the summer allows. And that’s what every kid deserves. The boys and girls that we get the privilege of sitting at tables with have experienced things that are hard to fathom. The summertime allows for longer visits and more opportunities to try new things. They have time, and so do we. The days are long, and the possibilities are endless.
I’ll never forget the look in *Shamiya’s eyes when she went to Six Flags for the first time. We waited in line for almost 2 hours for one ride, and I wish you could have heard her laughing—it was everything. It’s a memory that we created because there was time.
There was also the time with *Rameesha. She'd never been to a waterpark. She is naturally more quiet and reserved, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if she would enjoy it. When we got there, much to my surprise, she immediately wanted to go down the biggest slide. She said she felt like a kid again. She still talks about it today. It’s a memory that we created because there was time.
Then there’s the time with *Natalie. I met her when she was in a placement, but she was scheduled to be going home soon. I’ll never forget picking her up for the first time that summer. She'd been in placement for a while, and it was her first time meeting with an advocate in the community. She wanted to go shopping and get something to eat. We got everything she needed. She wanted her room to feel safe and cozy, so we got fuzzy blankets, pillows, a lamp, and she picked out a candle. When we sat down at the table to eat, she began to open up and share parts of her story. Our visit ended up lasting most of the day. We laughed, we cried, we made memories, and that time together still impacts us both today. The possibilities were endless—we had time.
Now, when I think about summers at Traffick911, I truly understand the significance of this time. I can’t help but get excited. As advocates, we have the opportunity to create memories with our clients that can last a lifetime. And as we wrap up a summer filled with long days and the endless possibilities, we need you.
Will you give today to help bring healing and freedom to every kid on our caseload? I know firsthand that every dollar raised is a yes to possibilities—that’s what every kid deserves.
With hope,
*To preserve and protect the identities and dignity of the young people we serve, Traffick911 may substitute certain details and will always utilize pseudonyms.