The document describes the author's personal experiences volunteering at a middle school. They were initially shocked by the differences between the private school they worked at and the inner city school where they volunteered. Through working with a special education teacher, Mr. Hanson, the author gained insight into the challenges faced by students in the special education program, including poverty and pressure to leave school early. Over several weeks, as the students became more comfortable with the author, they found the volunteering experience more enjoyable.