-By Winnie Liu, Kevin Huang, and Zaydon Huang
When Zaydon first started at BFF, everything was unfamiliar. He had never been separated from us, and because we primarily speak Mandarin at home, entering an English-speaking environment brought another layer of uncertainty. Drop-offs were filled with tears, and we often wondered how he would find his place.
But little by little, school began coming home with him. He taught us songs, introduced us to his teachers through pretend play, and shared stories about his days. With the patience, reassurance, and genuine care of Ms. Sommer and the BFF community, the unfamiliar slowly became familiar.
By the end of the school year, the little boy who once dreaded saying goodbye was waving enthusiastically and running to tell us about his adventures, friendships, and discoveries.
One evening, we asked what he would tell another child who was afraid to leave their parents. He replied, “If they're too scared, you can come find me, and I'll help you tell the teachers.”
That moment said everything. BFF gave Zaydon more than a place to learn. It gave him a sense of belonging, the confidence to trust others, and the courage to grow independently.
